Gibson Ridge

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations, Snow Profiles

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/15/2016
Name: Arden Feldman
Subject: Gibson Ridge
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9100

Avalanches: None
Weather: Overcast, S-1 increasing to S1 by nightfall, Calm winds increasing to Light, minimal snow transport.
Snowpack: See Profile

December-15-Gibson-Ridge-Pit

CBAC Snodgrass Study Plot Snowpit

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations, Snow Profiles

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/15/2016
Name: Arden Feldman
Subject: CBAC Snodgrass Study Plot Snowpit
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9760

Avalanches: None
Weather: See Profile
Snowpack: See Profile

December-15-Snodgrass-Pit

Snodgrass obs

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/15/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Subject: Snodgrass obs
Aspect: North, North East, South East
Elevation: 9,400-11,100 ft

Avalanches: 5 harmless wet loose avalanches ran naturally on a SW aspect BTL. I could see a fresh D1.5 debris pile on a S aspect NTL, looked like it might have been a slab release but too far to see clearly.
Weather: Broken skies. Warm, greenhousing.
Snowpack: No signs of instability across various rollovers and steep roadcuts BTL. Mid-pack facet layers produced non-propagating results. The structure on southeast aspects appeared to be the most fragile for incoming loads. Northeast aspects could handle a larger load but will produce larger slides. See photos and captions

Small loose avalanches occurred during greenhousing today.  SW aspect BTL.
NE aspect BTL.  ECTN 21, PC on 1.5 mm F facets.  F to 4F+ slab.
N aspect NTL.  ECTN 22, BRK.  45 cm down, on F+ 0.5 mm rounding near surface facets.  F to 1F slab.
SSE aspect BTL.  ECTN3, BRK.  45 cm down, below a thin meltfreeze crust on F facets.  F to 4F slab.

Little skiing

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/15/2016
Name: CR
Subject: Little skiing
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9500

Avalanches: None.
Weather: Cloudy, calm, warm (25?).
Snowpack: Shallow with a spongy/wet layer between the old and new snow. 4″ powder on top of the spongy stuff. No slough, but didn’t ski over 35 degree pitch.

Mountain Weather 12/15/2016

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 12/15/2016

We will see a short gasp of dry air this morning before unseasonably warm, southwesterly flow ushers in the main event. Temperatures at 5am are already in the upper 20s, and look to approach the upper 30s today. Heavy snowfall will start very warm, even potentially as R A I N below 10,000ft (we’re talking Crested Butte), before a sharp cold front acts as gas on the moist atmospheric fire and cranks the snow tomorrow before clearing out Saturday morning. Precipitation models are getting excited about this recipe, and while they may be going a bit heavy on the pinks and purples, 1-2 feet of snow look likely, with the potential for some impressive totals in the usual places (Schofield and Kebler Passes) by midday Saturday.

Today

High Temperature: 38
Wind Speed: 10-25
Wind Direction: SW
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 0-1″

Tonight

Low Temperature: 26
Wind Speed: 15-30 G 50
Wind Direction: SW, W
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 4-8″

Tomorrow

High Temperature: 33
Wind Speed: 15-25
Wind Direction: W
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 12-15″

Red lady glades

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/13/2016
Name:
Subject: Red lady glades
Aspect: South
Elevation: 11,000

Avalanches: none observed
Weather: Overcast and warm. Windy conditions even below treeline
Snowpack: 58 cm right below treeline. Layered snowpack although relatively consolidated. I saw no signs of instability but there was snow being blown around even in the Aspen trees so I imagine there was a lot of transport up high. Thicker denser snow on the surface from temp and sun but low angle slopes helped to not allow the sunburst to develop.