Bollettino valanghe

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Thu
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 3 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

You are likely to trigger an avalanche on northerly and easterly aspects.  Many triggered avalanches will be large enough to bury or kill you.  The avalanche in Red Lady Bowl on Tuesday is a glaring example of the touchy conditions you can encounter (video).  In general, south and southwesterly slopes have less worrisome conditions.  If you venture onto suspect aspects you can reduce your risk of avalanche by choosing conservative slope angles (about 30 degrees or less), avoiding travel directly below steep slopes, or selecting small, low-consequence terrain features where the result of an avalanche is less severe. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1.5–2

    1 to 2 feet of snow accumulated last weekend over persistent weak layers. With each passing day of mild weather, this avalanche problem will become less sensitive to human triggering, but the large and deadly size will remain. This avalanche problem may also give fewer warnings and obvious signs of instability. The most concerning aspects are northerly and easterly-facing slopes. The potential for triggered avalanches exists in other aspects but will be less commonly encountered.  Avalanches have the potential to break wider than you expect, and they can be triggered from flat slopes connected to steeper terrain. Consider the consequences of a large avalanche in the terrain you want to ride; smaller terrain features can lower the consequence if you do trigger an avalanche. While lower slope angles, without overhead hazards, can lower the chance of triggering an avalanche.

    Natural avalanches on Climax Chutes. Likely failed 12/3. Debris hit valley floor.

Avalanche Discussion

The natural avalanche cycle a few days ago, the large avalanche in Red Lady Bowl on Tuesday, and observers reporting collapsing/cracking (1,2) on suspect aspects highlighted by the Persistent Slab distribution rose point to dangerous conditions around the area.  A developing/growing continental snowpack in the early season can challenge your patience and resolve to make conservative terrain selections.  Blue skies, pleasant temperatures, and light winds may distract you from the lurking danger.  Additionally, as time increases from the loading event, signs of instability may slowly decrease and you may not experience in-your-face red flags.  Take the time to make thoughtful travel plans and identify slopes of concern that you intend to avoid since you can be confident that most northerly and easterly-facing terrain have poor structure.  You can greatly reduce your risk of avalanches by choosing lower-angled slopes without overhead hazards and still find great turns.  Most areas in the Northwest Mountains and portions of the Southeast Mountains with a snowpack greater than 70 cm offer great riding conditions on shady lower-angled terrain.  The snowpack is commonly supportive to ski/board, soft, and fast.

You may be able to find better stability on south and southwest-facing terrain as there are far fewer recent avalanches.  However, a thoughtful assessment of the snowpack should be made before you commit to avalanche terrain.  Previous north winds drifted some upper elevation slopes facing south/southwest and could pose a threat for triggered avalanches.  Additionally, unseasonably warm temperatures on Wednesday are likely to soften and potentially wet the snow surface on this terrain and could produce some minor loose avalanche activity in the warmest and rockiest terrain.  So consider these factors, if you head to upper elevations slopes not highlighted by the Persistent Slab rose.

News & Events: 

  • Thank you to everyone who attended our Avalanche Awareness Night and Beacon Brushup last weekend!  We are hosting our annual Christmas Tree Sale this Friday-Sunday.  Look for us at Ace Hardware from noon til 7 pm. 
  • We’re excited to release an Avalanche Terrain Map of our forecast area! Check it out here.

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