West Brush Creek

Location: Brush Creek Area
Date of Observation: 12/10/2019
Name: Eric Murrow

Subject: West Brush Creek

Aspect: East, South, South West

Elevation: 9000′ to 11450′
Avalanches: Gothic: 2xSS-R1-D2 large avalanche on “spork” and east face
Baldy: 1xSS-R2-D2 large avalanche on an alpine east face

WSC: 2xSS-R2-D2 SE alpine terrain features

Weather: Clear skies, mild temperatures, and light winds in terrain traveled. No significant loading but occasional drifting at highest terrains near peaks,.

Snowpack: Traveled up onto Teo ridge from West Brush Creek looking at slab structure to the east of Crested Butte. Profile dug in an east-facing meadow at 11,200′ found HS 78cm with cohesive slab resting above old, weak facets at the ground. Test results CTV and ECTP16. This structure produced numerous rumbling collapses in nearby areas.  HS on south and southwest facing near and below treeline was around 40cm.  Southerly terrain produced collapses as well but not nearly as large as east-facing terrain.  Southerlies had a double crust with facets beneath.  South-facing slopes below treeline had become moist by the afternoon.  Poor looking structure in most terrain traveled.  HS at 9900′ in valley bottom below Teocalli was around 5ocm.