BC Zone Observation Report
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Gunnison
Details
Date:
2019/04/24
Observer:
Ben Pritchett
Organization:
Forecaster, CAIC
Location
BC Zone:
Gunnison
Area Description:
Crested Butte
Weather
Ridgeline Wind Speed:
10-20 mph
Ridgeline Wind Direction:
NW
Wind Loading:
None
Temperature:
48 F
Sky Cover:
Broken
Weather Description:
Mostly cloudy to overcast day, with steady northwest breeze and warm temps. A few degrees cooler and a shorter peak in heat than yesterday (Tuesday). About 7-10 degrees cooler than the end of last week's heat wave.
Snowpack
Snowpack Description:
Went to check wetting at 3-5pm window to capture the day's peak. Surfaces became cohesion-less down 2-4 inches deep on all aspects below treeline. Boot penetration generally stayed less than 10cm, except in shallow areas. Loose Wet avalanche threat was confined to only a few inches surface snow at most. In shallow areas with less than about 70cm, the frozen slab thawed to the point that it would collapse easily, with boot pen to ground. In deeper areas (>~80-200+cm), the frozen slab was much thicker and remained consistently supportive above the wetted old depth hoar and facets below.
Avalanches
Avalanche Description:
Saw a couple fresh D1 sluff's on Mt. Emmons, both triggered by very small cornice falls.
Date
Location/Path
#
Elev
Asp
Type
Trig
SizeR
SizeD
2019/04/24
†
Mount Emmons
1
TL
E
WL
N
R1
D1
Date:
2019/04/24 (Estimated)
Observer:
Ben Pritchett
Organization:
Forecaster, CAIC
Area Description:
Coon Basin
Landmark:
Mount Emmons
2019/04/24
†
Mount Emmons
1
>TL
SE
WL
N
R1
D1
Date:
2019/04/24 (Estimated)
Observer:
Ben Pritchett
Organization:
Forecaster, CAIC
Area Description:
Red Lady Bowl
Landmark:
Mount Emmons
Media
Images
