Copper creek

CB Avalanche Center2017-18 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/03/2018
Name: Ben pritchett

Subject: Copper creek
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West
Elevation: 9,500-12,200’

Avalanches:

3x WL-N-R1D1.5–I on South aspects above treeline off the ridge between Copper Cr and Virginia Basin.

Weather: Blustery day. Scattered snow showers before to, gorgeous mid day, and developing greybird in PM. Blowing snow in the alpine all day.
Snowpack: Below 10,000’ on sunny slopes the snowpack got wet, even saturated and isothermal on some features. Very strong influence of free water on the sunny sides with small fresh loose wet avalanches, even above treeline. Crusty surfaces on anything kissed by the sun under 11,000, and sun crusts we’ll into the alpine on southeast to west aspects.
North winds over the last week raked the alpine, leaving northerly bowls stripped, often down to talus.
Found decent skiing in alpine northeast to east terrain, with no collapsing or cracking. An inch of new snow last night drifted into dramatic leopard skin and tiger stripe textures with radically different ski quality based on local drifting patterns. Slabs were faceting and thinning on their margins.

Photos:

Mountain Weather February 4th, 2018

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/04/2018

The flow of weather is still to our north and east as we continue to hang out on the dry side of the line. We would be lucky to see a dusting of snow today. Since we are just on the wrong side of the line, we don’t get the snow, but we do get the partly cloudy sky and gusty ridge top winds spilling over that line. A better developed low pressure trough will begin pushing further south tomorrow. We’ll see increasing cloud cover tomorrow with light snow showers developing in the afternoon and Monday night. We’re only looking at a few inches of new snow during that period. Heading into the rest of the work week, our area continues to hang out under the high-pressure ridge with no new snow accumulations until our next chance around next weekend.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 38
    Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 20
    Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 35
    Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon
    Elkton Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon

Mountain Weather

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/03/2018

Overnight, light snow developed, but as of 6am, less than 1” of snow has fallen across the forecast area. Blustery west winds will continue, and bring a slightly stronger wave of moisture this evening, when light snow may redevelop. High pressure will re-build after this pulse of weather. Sunday and Monday look dry, with more light snow for Tuesday. If one had to put money on it, I’d say 3-6” on Tuesday for Kebler and Schofield, with more snow potential Friday.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 40
    Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0-2″
    Elkton Snow: 0-2″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 20
    Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 42
    Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Mountain Weather

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/02/2018

Winds have ramped up once again above treeline this morning, and are blowing into the 50mph range at some locations ahead of the next ripple in the persistent northwesterly flow. Temperatures are once again startlingly balmy, as cloud cover has held daytime warmth from escaping overnight. Beginning tonight and tomorrow, we will finally see the some light snowfall out of the semi-continuous deck of clouds that have steadily streamed into our area since the Blood Moon. Accumulations look light, but favorable orographics and cold air advection could enhance snowfall starting tomorrow in those usual places on the western and northern portions of our forecast area. Stay tuned.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 36
    Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0″
    Elkton Snow: 0″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 25
    Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0-1″
    Elkton Snow: 0-1″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 31
    Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 2-4″
    Elkton Snow: 2-4″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

January extremes 2017 and 2018

CB Avalanche Center2017-18 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/31/2018
Name: ADB

Subject: January extremes 2017 and 2018
Aspect: South
Elevation: BTL

Avalanches:
Weather: 0 inches of new precipitation in past 24 hours.
broken skies.
light winds increasing to moderate winds between 9AM and 1PM.
Snowpack: Snow courses: Keystone (Red Lady Glades)-please don’t ski through our snow course. Crested Butte snow course by Magic Yurt. Keystone was established in 1960 and Crested Butte was established in 1951. Thanks. ADB
snow course Date average depth SWE Date average depth SWE
Inches inches Inches inches
Crested Butte 1/27/2017 62 15.8 1/31/2018 19 3.4
Keystone 1/27/2017 68 17.1 1/31/2018 16 2.8
SWE=liquid water in the snowpack if you melted the snow.

Photos:

Mountain Weather February 1, 2018

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/01/2018

Hang on a second, I need clean the mud off my glasses. The wind blew that puddle splash in my face…. Ok, thanks.
Well, after not freezing in Crested Butte last night, we’re in for another cloudy, windy and warm day today, and again tomorrow. The jet will stay just to our north, as will most of the snow for the next couple days.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 30
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 40, West
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
    Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 20, warmer in the valley floor
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 33
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
    Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Red Lady Bowl

CB Avalanche Center2017-18 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/31/2018
Name: Tyler Tegtmeier and Cam Smith

Subject: Red Lady Bowl
Aspect: South East, South
Elevation: 9,100 to 12,400

Weather: Mix of sun and clouds with temps in the mid 30s at the TH and getting cooler at higher elevations. Wind out of the West with 50mph gust, especially ATL. Blowing snow at and above tree line.
Snowpack: Snow in the sun at lower elevations was warming quick and turning slushy/wet. Skin track was iced up in the trees where shade kept the snow cooler with a noticeable icy crust. Above tree line the wind was blowing snow and snow was severely wind affected on the south side face. Cornices noticed along summit ridge. Bowl was wind affected as well with crust noticeable throughout entire descent. It was either a nasty breakable crust or we both forgot how to ski.

Mountain Weather January 31, 2018

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 01/31/2018

Last night’s low in Gothic was 34 degrees. I believe it’s the first time in recorded history that it didn’t drop below freezing on a January night according to billy barr’s records 50 years of daily weather observations.
With high pressure on the West Coast and low pressure over the Great Lakes, we’re stuck on the south side of a northwest jet stream. This pattern will keep wind, clouds, and warm air in our forecast for the rest of the work week, with most of the snow staying near the Colorado/Wyoming border.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 35
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting into the 40’s, West
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 20
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 30
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 40, West
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
    Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Cement mountain avalanche observation

CB Avalanche Center2017-18 Observations

Location: Cement Creek Area
Date of Observation: 01/30/2018
Name: Eric Murrow

Subject: Cement mountain avalanche observation
Aspect: North
Elevation: 11,500’

Avalanches:

While taking the dog for his afternoon romp, I noticed an avalanche in upper horse basin on cement mountain. I can’t quite remember when the last day I was up here but I believe it was Saturday 1/27 ( not real confident on this but my best guess). Sorry for the horrible image, but with naked eye I could ID this from valley floor. This is a north aspect @ treeline. Good example of terrain you won’t see me skiing anytime soon; near treeline, shaded aspect, and obvious wind affected! I would say it’s a D1.5 or maybe D2.

Photos:

Facet Sluffing

CB Avalanche Center2017-18 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/30/2018
Name: Evan Ross

Subject: Facet Sluffing
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9,500-11,145

Snowpack: Full depth facet sluffing on slope angles near 40 degrees. Didn’t get an HS on the upper elevation slopes, but even those that didn’t appear to have avalanched this year were still weak and sluffing to the ground. In the more open terrain, ski pen rode up higher in the snowpack on wind-loaded or cross-loaded terrain features with a more developed mid-pack. No signs to instability while skiing on these terrain features.

Photos: