CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 12:00 AM
Gunnison

Details

Date: 2018/02/08

Observer: Ben Pritchett
Organization: Director, CBAC

Location

BC Zone: Gunnison
Area Description: Elkton Hills, with broad views of high terrain in Paradise Divide area.

Weather

Weather Description: Blustery. Above freezing in the valley floors, just below freezing up high. Efficient transport late morning through early afternoon.

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: Several wind slab avalanches observed: Gothic Mtn, West Face. Natural D2 off SW aspect, 12,200'. Purple Mtn, East Face. Natural D2 off SE aspect, 12,600'. Mt. Baldy, East FAce. Skier triggered D1 off E aspect, 12,400'.

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2018/02/07 ^†

Gothic

1

>TL

SW

SS

N

R1

D2

View

2018/02/07 ^†

Ruby Range

1

>TL

E

SS

N

R1

D2

View

2018/02/07 ^†

Schofield Pass

1

>TL

E

SS

AS

R1

D1

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Winds ripping through the Kebler corridor drifted snow on Mt. Axtell. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/ov638in6smn6fsxqhw9g6wkq96am?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=f931bb14327652e784e73ce928c6978f','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Efficient loading on Gothic's Northwest Face. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/wuncq3e5ungi21jnbmdg2noqqa9u?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=685fc1ddf73c5f5872894d77312d1093','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Small skier triggered slide on Mt. Baldy. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/w9l5d3po3fpn65hp27tpzyb4q8xa?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=29b7d2cdeed924c1734c0ac8f684925f','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Purple Mtn. wind slab, small end of D2. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/a6xqsq5vrboi2b9sf6i6u8151s7k?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=55edc8457eaa7df4ae5c5dc7789be720','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> Gothic Mtn. West Face, D2. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/rm09zzkimkszaf2ogexw3xmloaq4?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b2f1f79796fc9151c56612a87bf95d20','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)