Avalanche Obs from Slate Sled and Truck Tour

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/14/2020
Name: Eric Murrow
Subject: Avalanche Obs from Slate Sled and Truck Tour
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West

Avalanches: A substantial number of avalanches observed around Slate River Valley and terrain visible from roadways around Crested Butte. Natural avalanche activity was largely a product wind-loading from the last storm at upper elevations. Do not believe I spotted any below treeline avalanches today. Most avalanches appeared to only involve the recent storm snow from the past 5 days, propagation was fairly limited. A number of these avalanches are repeat offenders that failed earlier in the winter. One avalanche in Axtel’s Green Lake Bowl failed sometime between 3pm and 440pm. Avalanches up to D2 in size were observed off Scarps Ridge(NE), Redwell Basin(NE,E), Peeler Basin(NE), Schuylkill Ridge(NE), Cinnamon Mtn(S), Angel Pass(NE), Purple Ridge(S), Gothic Mtn(E,SE,SW), Mount Bellview(S,E), Red Ridge(S,E), WSC Peak(S), Deer Creek(S), Teocalli(debris in SE gully), Whetstone’s Hidden Lake Bowl(NE), Axtel’s Green Lake Bowl(NE). See photos for a selection of observed avalanches.

Weather: Mostly clear skies. Cold temps in the morning at valley bottom quickly warmed up before noon. Winds at valley bottom were light, but lots of flagging off ridgetops and summits all day long with continued loading for near and above treeline slopes from southwest winds.

Photos: