Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/15/2019
Name: Ian Havlick

Subject: Whetstone and Gibson Avalanches
Aspect: East, South East
Elevation: BTL-NTL

Avalanches:

Photos of observed avalanches yesterday (2/15) as storm departed. Persistent slab avalanches at varying elevations along 135 Corridor. Gibson Ridge avalanches were repeaters which slid earlier this season.

Weather: Partly Cloudy, clearing skies, balmy temperatures

Snowpack:

Photos:

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/16/2019
Name: Evan Ross

Subject: Fresh D2.5 Very Large Avalanche
Aspect: North East, South
Elevation: 9,200-11,600

Avalanches:

A fresh D2.5 slab avalanche was right off the Red Lady skin track before you hit the first exposed ridge, on the steep NE terrain to the climbers right. Measured about ~10cm’s of snow on the bed surface at 1pm. So this avalanche likely failed early this morning or yesterday afternoon. Lots of wind-loading on this slope so it may have failed naturally, or been remote triggered by the folks setting the skin track. The Crown averaged 2.5 to 3ft and failed in the upper snowpack. I was not able to get below the crown to see if the weak layers was at the old snow surface or in the late January interfaces. On the parts of the slope that had avalanched earlier this season the avalanche had stepped down to ~30cm’s above the ground and the crown grew to 4 to 5ft in places.

Weather: At lower elevations the winds were moderate and blowing from the west down valley. Plenty of snow available for transport and drifting on open terrain features. At near treeline elevations westerly winds were moderate to strong and drifting snow was intense on open terrain features. The majority of snow available for transport has already drifted on the one open ridgeline we traveled while todays snow was just continuing to add fuel. Measured about 5cm of new snow in about 4hrs at 10,000ft today. Today’s storm totals were around 15cm at 10,000ft.

Snowpack: A nice and quiet snowpack where we traveled though we didn’t push it. No collapse observed. Kept the terrain choices to near or below 30 degrees on southerly facing slope and avoided drifted features. On southerly facing slopes the 2/15 crust was a real bitch, but thankfully it got buried by enough snow not deter the ski quality in the afternoon.

Photos:

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/15/2019
Name: Eric Murrow

Subject: Mostly Avalanches and few thoughts from 2/15 cycle
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West
Elevation: BTL, NTL, ATL

Avalanches:

Axtel – 3rd bowl NE, Antracites – NW bowl N-NE, ridge south of Ruby – E, Schuylkill – SE, Red Lady Bowl – SE, Climax – NE, Red Ridge – S, Whetstone N & E, above Copper Creek – SE, Avery – SE, Snodgrass – SW, Gothic – NE-E-S-SW, Long Lake – NE, Teocalli – SE, to name a few. Lots of aspects and elevations involved. The obvious key factor was wind-loading. Some step-downs in old layers on northerly, some step-downs on sunny slopes. There were few below treeline slides involving just the storm snow.

Weather: Good visibility around the range by 3pm. Periodic loading on to easterly aspects throughout the day.

Photos:

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/10/2019
Name: Chris Martin

Subject: Snodgrass NE – Abbey Lane
Aspect: North, North East, East
Elevation: 9800′

Avalanches:

N/O

Weather: Clear Day in the Elks.
Temps in high 20sF

Snowpack: Most recent storm snow on snodgrass is about 30cm thick and remaking 4F-F softness.

Snowpack is revealing a strongish mid pack.

The 3-4mm DH at basal level of snowpack 10-20cm thick is concerning on these NE aspects, has yet to be on a consolidation trend and is remaining dry. CTHSC on this layer and no propagation observed.

HS 135cm
23 degree incline
9814’ Aspect 40-50 degrees
CT SP down 30 cm in most recent storm snow.
ECTP 22 down 50-55cm on 1-2mm FC
CTHSC down 125cm 3-4mm DH uncosolidated and dry
Photos:

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/15/2019
Name: TC

Subject: Red Lady
Aspect: South East, South
Elevation: 9,200-12,400

Avalanches:

Remotely triggered (from <1ft) a fast-moving R1D2 from the ridge as we were nearing treeline. Ran 500 vertical feet through steep, rocky terrain, dragging big rocks with it. Did not see any other notable naturals from the summit. The cornices on top of Red Lady bowl were surprisingly small. Had a safe and pleasant ski down the glades. Snow was wind affected and a bit grabby in places.

Weather: Socked in most of the morning; clearing as we approached the summit. Periods of light snow. Westerly winds increasing with elevation, with gusts in the 20-30 mph range.

Snowpack: 30 cm of new snow; heavy & dense. Obvious wind scouring & wind loading from westerly winds. Very little obvious signs of instability, with just one small collapse on the climb, and we were breaking trail the entire way.

Photos:

Location: Cement Creek Area
Date of Observation: 02/15/2019
Name: ADB

Subject: Cement Creek-Trail Run
Aspect: East
Elevation: BTL

Avalanches:

Drainage between Caves Trail Head and Walrod: E/NE Aspect Fresh: SS-N-R2-D2. Starting zone below the aspen groves. Some dirt shows in the scarp. Couldn’t see debris pile due to my location on the road. Did observe two drainages full of debris below the slide.

Close to the Cement Creek C.G. on the north side of road but no risk to the road and off of cliff bands: Appears to have occurred earlier in storm cycle as its’ filled in. SS-N-R0.5-D0.5 with sympathetic release with same size below.

Weather: Running short conditions.

Snowpack: about 13 inches of Sierra Cement on the deck in CB South. (24 hour storm total).
Southern aspects along the road: roller balls of different sizes and forms.

Photos:

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/14/2019
Name: Eleven Cat Ski Guides

Subject: Eleven PM Report
Aspect: East, South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 10-12,000ft

Avalanches:

SE, NTL:

“Thin Line” HS-AE-R3-D2-O FC (78cm x 14m x 140m) Failed on FC on 1/15 IF, stepped down mid path released slab
on lower slope 1/15 IF

“Hollywood & Vine” HS-AB-R4-D2.5-O FC (100cm x 50m x 160m) Slope ran full path on 1/15 IF, debris ran out of
photo

Weather: Snowed in am with a break from 1100-1400. Snow picked up again S1 after 1400….

Snowpack: Snowpack observations: No signs of instabilities from the guide team. Good skiing and not feeling the bottom
with ski pen 20cm. Dense, moist storm snow. As of 1600, 8″ / .85″ SWE.

See attached profile from SS team

Photos: