Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/14/2018
Name: Steve Banks

Subject: Gothic Obs
Aspect: West
Elevation: 9500

Avalanches:

No recent avalanches were observed.

Weather: Clear and Sunny, little to no wind, high temps near freezing.
Snowpack: Mostly travelled on the road to Gothic. Observed small 1-3 mm surface hoar in the valley floor. In untrammeled terrain low in the valley West facing we received multiple loud collapses. There were areas of wind stiffened surface snow and evidence of previous wind drifting and loading (including some scree loading)

Photos:

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 12/13/2018
Name: Zach

Subject:
Aspect: North East, East, South West
Elevation: 9,000′-11,000′

Avalanches:

One new slide observed on East Cinnamon ~12,000′. Propagated ~150m across the slope and ran 300+ m out of sight.

Weather: Long underwear and a down jacket were greatly appreciated. Sunny skies, Cold with NW to NE winds, light-moderate with gusts and enough to transport small amounts of snow from time to time below tree line. Light loading off of larger peaks and ridge lines.
Snowpack: See picture of weekly profile from the Elkton Study Plot for a snapshot of that location.

On a search for Surface Hoar, Shovel Tilt tests at the plot site and at two NE open slopes BTL revealed easy results @ 10cm on Preserved Stellars(picture), No Surface Hoar found in any of these locations.

On Anthracite Mesa, very little windslab growth as strong NE winds were scouring snow in the open bowls and depositing it on the flats at ridgeline. No collapses or cracking was observed as the PS structure remained quiet today.

Photos:

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/13/2018
Name: Eric Murrow

Subject: Kebler Pass Buried Surface Hoar
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South
Elevation: 10,000′-11,500′

Avalanches:

Two fresh avalanches were visible on Mt Owen. Could not see crowns, but presume them to be wind slabs. Estimate to be D1.5.

Weather: Brrrrr it was a cold morning out there . Winds were light with moderate gust out of NW at treeline. Small amounts of transport were happening during tour.

Snowpack: Kept moving through out the tour to stay warm, but performed at couple quick test at surface. In two locations, on at 10,600 and 11,000, both NE aspects and open meadows I found buried surface hoar about 10cm down.
Other notable finds were drifts up to 14″ deep immediately below ridge top on south/southeast aspects. Stomping just below ridge top produced minor cracking, approx. 5 feet. Ski cut same slope on way down without any result. Drifts dissipated quickly as you moved down slope. There were several large drifts at the ridge top that were 18″ deep or more, got one to collapse with three people standing on drifted whales at ridge top which caused a small fresh cornice to break onto a southeast slope.

Photos:

12/13 Fresh slides on Mt. Owen

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/13/2018
Name: billy barr

Subject: Gothic Townsite 7am Obs
Aspect:
Elevation: 9400

Avalanches:
Weather: Light snow Wed. afternoon with 1½” with 0.10″ of water and was looking OK but then wind came late day and shut off snow with just 1″ snow and 0.07″ water overnight while clearing. Wind stopped around 4 a.m. and it has dropped to -03F so far. Snowpack at 23½” and has been holding steady with the light snow. Now clear and calm. billy
Snowpack:

Photos:

Location: Cement Creek Area
Date of Observation: 12/11/2018
Name: Evan Ross

Subject: Cement Creek Check In
Aspect:
Elevation: 9,000-12,000

Avalanches:

Plenty of old avalanches to be seen from earlier this season at ATL/NTL/BTL elevations. Though, those avalanches are getting covered up and more difficult to detect with more recent snow and wind. Old Persistent Slab avalanches could be seen on west to north to easterly aspects. Southern aspects only had some old, smaller Wind Slab avalanches in the alpine.

Weather:
Snowpack: Traveled Cement Creek Rd to the end of the valley at 12,000. Not enough snow to want to get off the road via snowmobile and by the looks of things the skiing options were slim too. No signs of recreational travel this season in the upper Cement Creek area. In the lower Cement Creek drainage there wasn’t really enough snow for skiing in avalanche terrain. Moderate avalanche danger would hold for the area given heightened avalanche danger on specific terrain. That specific terrain would be wind-loaded areas. On the lee sides of ridgelines and in cross loaded terrain or gully features. Given what we know about the weather history and observations in other parts of the CBAC forecast area, these wind loaded terrain features would be suspect for the Persistent Slab avalanche problem as is currently highlighted on the avalanche bulletin.

Photos:

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 12/12/2018
Name: Than

Subject: Swiss cheese
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation: ATL, BTL

Avalanches:

None seen but it was milk jug in the valley

Weather: windy and snowy on the ridge and at treeline, calm and snowing lightly below treeline
Snowpack: Looking at the ridge from down valley, you could see it had been wind scoured on the south side. Denser wind effect on top of a snowpack that was 140 cm deep at treeline. Below treeline snowpack was light on top, denser in the middle and sitting on crap at the bottom. Appeared to be a buried surface hoar as well 10 or so cms down. Classic strong over weak structure. The swiss cheese comment comes from an old mentor of mine who pointed out that while the pack may look and feel good in a lot of spots, there are still holes in random areas and to always be aware. Thin crust on anything facing E/SE. Bottom part of pitch to the valley floor was still unconsolidated top to bottom in the pack and about 40 cms deep.

Photos:

Eleven Snowcat Terrain 12/11/18:

Notable collapses on South facing terrain,  Multiple ECTM results with Sudden Collapse failures indicating the potential for propagation. Snow profile on South had failures below a crust capping early season facets, while on West there was no crust but failure on same early season facets.