Gunnison

Observers have reported good stability and quiet avalanche activity under the cooler weather pattern of the past few days.  As the day warms up, stay alert for the isolated threat of a wet avalanche or cornice fall. You can minimize your risk by traveling earlier in the day and one at a time in steep terrain.  

Since last week's warmup peaked last Friday and Saturday, there have not been any wet avalanches reported around the Elk Mountains or Colorado.  At 11,000', temperatures have averaged about 10 degrees cooler than their high water mark over the weekend. This has promoted better refreezes around the compass and reduced meltwater production onto the higher, colder aspects, which have yet to transition into a mature spring snowpack.   Nevertheless, we still haven't seen a hard freeze through the entire snowpack, so the isolated threat of triggering a wet loose or wet slab avalanche remains.  Traveling earlier in the day and aiming for ideal corn snow (instead of wet, punchy snow where your boots sink deep into the snowpack) is a good strategy for reducing exposure to wet avalanches.  Normal spring caution travel advice is in effect.  

A powder refresh is coming this weekend! If snow forecasts stay on track, the threat of new snow instabilities and the subsequent wet loose shed cycle will cause changing conditions. Stay tuned, and don't put those powder boards into storage yet.