Snowpack

Purple Ridge

Evan RossGunnison
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Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3

Quick report

Collapsing
isolated

We observed a few collapses while hunting around some previously wind-loaded terrain features.

Weather

Cloud Cover
overcast
Wind Loading
none
Snow Avail For Transport
moderate amounts

Between 10am and 1pm, the accumulated snowfall was around an inch. Snowfall rates picked up around 12:30pm-1pm as we were headed out. Calm wind and poor visibility.

Snowpack

The snowpack on this tour was not that interesting, with a general snowpack that was shallow, soft, and/or weak. Slabs were isolated, as there was not much previous wind loading where we traveled. The poor visibility made old loading patterns hard to see, and it kept us from going any higher. 

Since 12/1, there was about 10cm of new snow at 10,500ft and around noon before snowfall rates started to pick up. 

The ski pen is still near the ground because the snowpack hasn't gained strength while slowly settling from last weekend's storm.