Bollettino valanghe

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

It is possible for you to trigger a small avalanche in the Southeast Mountains above treeline on wind-drifted slopes.  Slopes that face north through east through southeast at upper elevations offer this possibility.  Snow volumes are relatively meager in the Southeast Mountains making suspect slopes isolated in distribution.  Look for stiff snow on the leeward side of ridges, below cornices, or in cross-loaded gulleys to avoid the problem.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Snowfall and moderate westerly winds from Wednesday formed this avalanche problem. These slabs are expected to average 6 to 12 inches thick and have formed on a variety of weak old snow surfaces.  In general, this problem will be more isolated and smaller in size in the Southeast Mountains.  Remotely triggering this avalanche problem is a possibility as you approach wind-loaded terrain features. Plan ahead and use caution around terrain features like the lee sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded gulleys. This avalanche problem will be more common and problematic above treeline. At near treeline elevations, these slabs will not completely disappear but be more isolated in their distribution. 

    Example of a shallow wind slab on the lee side of a ridgeline. 

Avalanche Discussion

The greatest avalanche hazard resides above treeline where you will find the deepest accumulations, widespread weak layers on the north half of the compass, and the most wind-drifted snow.  The spine of the Ruby Range in the Northwest Mountains offers the most terrain to recreate due to a deeper snowpack but also offers the most significant avalanche hazard.  Slopes that face north through east through southeast above treeline with wind-drifted snow are the most suspect.  Take a look at this observation from yesterday to see a few recent, natural avalanches to get a clearer picture of the terrain characteristics that should prompt you to evaluate the snowpack before you jump into avalanche terrain (pics also in the media gallery below).  All of those natural avalanches are leeward slopes, often with cornices, or were cross-loaded by the wind.  The chances of you triggering an avalanche on alpine slopes are slowly diminishing as wind-loading has ended and snowfall stopped two days ago. Even though the loading has ended, the newly formed slabs fell upon very weak, faceted snow surfaces which will keep the threat of human-triggered avalanches lingering.  A simple solution to the current avalanche problem is to avoid recently drifted alpine slopes and look for lower-angled terrain without signs of recent drifting.  

In the Southeast Mountains, the avalanche hazard is lower as compared to the Northwest Mountains for two reasons.  This is due to significantly less snowfall from the last storm and a generally shallow to non-existent snowpack in some places.  Drifted alpine terrain in the Southeast Mountains can still produce avalanches, but they will be isolated in distribution across the landscape and be smaller in size.  Over snow travel below treeline in the Southeast Mountains, like Brush and Cement Creeks, will be difficult or impossible due to lack of snow. 

 

 

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