Valanga

Cement Creek to Star Pass area and HWY 135 obs

Eric MurrowGunnison
Vedi sulla mappa

Quick report

Wet snow issues appeared to behave today.  I did not notice any collapsing while snowmobiling.  I rode close to a drifted alpine feature facing northeast and a variable depth west-facing slope without result; I don't place much significance on this as I kept a conservative distance away and was on lower-angled terrain adjacent to the paths.  While riding beneath several alpine avalanche paths, we thoughtfully discussed our route plan to manage the overhead hazard for potential remotely triggered avalanches.

Weather

Clear skies with mild temperatures and calm to light winds above treeline.

Snowpack

Made a quick trip through the Cement Creek and Hunter Creek corridors so not much snowpack assessment.  A sheltered location at 11,200 feet near Star Basin measured 200cm deep.  In the afternoon, while exiting Cement Creek down near the Deadman Narrows, I found an east-southeast slope with about 4 inches of wet snow resting above a supportive crust.

Avalanche

Size
D2.5 R3
Count
2
Aspect
NE
Trigger
N
Elevation
12200 ft

Some small wet loose activity around the area typically from sunny, rocky features at upper elevations. Two undocumented Persistent Slabs that failed earlier in the week - Whetstone (Hidden Lake Bowl, and Avery Peak in Virginia Basin.