Bollettino valanghe

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

Another lovely day to get out in the mountains is coming up, with normal caution expected across the forecast area as spring conditions have become well-established. If you were to find an instability, it would most likely be a wet loose avalanche in steep terrain. You can avoid those wet avalanches by moving to lower consequence terrain or colder aspects if the snow surface starts to rollerball or your feet sink deeply into wet snow.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1

    Shallow wet loose avalanches can be triggered or run naturally at higher elevations under warming temperatures and sunshine.  Today's wet loose avalanches should be confined to the recent snow, and will be relatively harmless unless they push you over in no-fall zones or carry you into terrain traps.  Use caution in consequential terrain if you see rollerballs or pinwheels.  Use defensive riding techniques or move to mellower terrain to manage the problem.  You can avoid wet loose avalanches by traveling early or moving to colder aspects before snow surfaces get wet.

    This example of a recent wet loose avalanche demonstrates the expected size.

Avalanche Discussion

The good snow coverage is getting harder to access or more adventurous to access, but once you arrive, you can still find some good riding conditions. Last night's low temperatures were a couple of degrees warmer than the previous nights. Cloud cover decreased overnight, and those hours with a clear sky helped the snowpack lose heat and refreeze. The best skiing conditions are during the first half of the day when the surface of the snowpack is just starting to get soft. You can still find cold powder-like snow on some high north-facing slopes. Snowmobiling is, of course, best in the afternoon when the snowpack is soft, but be heads up if you are in steep terrain with a punchy wet snowpack. 

With the warming trend continuing, wet loose instabilities will continue to expand to higher elevations and colder aspects.  Wet loose activity this week has been small and confined to the recent snow above firm, brown crusts.  There is more recent snow at higher elevations, where you are more likely to encounter the problem.  If you're in high-consequence terrain, time your travels before the snow surface gets too wet, gloppy, or starts rollerballing.  

 Wind drifting on Monday formed thin, dense wind slabs on isolated features at upper elevations, and a few small natural and skier-triggered wind slabs occurred early this week.  These instabilities are expected to be healed up now. Any lingering exceptions are most likely found on very steep or unsupported leeward slopes in extreme terrain.  Seek out the soft, wind-ripled snow rather than smooth, firm snow for extra insurance if you are riding on colder aspects.  

An outlier to the pattern of small avalanches this week is the large cornice fall/slab on Baldy.  Cornice falls are infrequent and difficult to predict; minimize your exposure below overhung cornices and give them a wide berth if you are traveling along corniced ridgelines.    

Regioni coperte