Carbon Peak

CB Avalanche Center2014-15 Observations

LOCATION: Kebler Pass Area
DATE OF OBSERVATION: 03/13/2015
NAME: DR
SUBJECT: Carbon Peak
ASPECT: South West, West, North West
ELEVATION: 8800-12000

 

AVALANCHES:

WEATHER: Mix of everything except cold today. AM was partly cloudy with strong solar until noon; winds were calm and temps were 4ºC. At noon it was snowing lightly (S-1), light winds and temps were 2ºC. Less than 1cm of snow fell, with some graupel mixed in. Sun returned around 2PM, strong solar produced local “tornados” on rapidly heating west aspects. Temps jumped to 6ºC quickly. Warm, sunny and calm into the evening.

SNOWPACK: Schmoooo! Toured up on a crust that was at least 2cm thick and still hard until about 2PM. Descent on NNW aspect had 10 to 15cm of ski pen in moist snow, getting pretty wet below 10,000’. Climbed out of gully on a steep (37º) east aspect and felt some collapsing under a surface crust, but nothing moved – no real signs of instabilities. Final descent on a west aspect showed no signs of instabilities even though it was 40cm of stiff, but moist snow over weaker snow to ground.

UPLOADS:

Aspen to Crested Butte (via Pearl Pass)

CB Avalanche Center2014-15 Observations

LOCATION: Brush Creek Area
DATE OF OBSERVATION: 03/13/2015
NAME: JSJ
SUBJECT: Aspen to Crested Butte (via Pearl Pass)
ASPECT: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West
ELEVATION: 9000-13000

 

AVALANCHES:

WEATHER: Clear, hot, sunny, and calm on Tuesday. Broken to overcast skies with thin cloud cover beginning Wed mid-day through yesterday afternoon, accompanied by calm to light NW/W winds, warm daytime temps with lots of solar green housing, and a trace of new snow as of 1000 this morning.

SNOWPACK: Aspen side of the range in the Pearl Pass zone had a similar natural avalanche cycle to CB zone, with lots (well over 2 dozen sizable slides observed) of NW/N/NE/E aspects near and above treeline having slid. Mostly all in terrain exposed to wind loading and steeper then 40 degrees. Evidence of small cycle on southerly slopes with recent solar heating. Overall, snowpack seems to have calmed down, with no instabilities noted while traveling in the alpine for 3 days on slopes of all aspects and up to low 40’s in steepness.

UPLOADS:

Mountain Weather for Friday, March 13th, 2015

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 03/13/2015

The overall weather picture today looks to remain unsettled, with increasing clouds due to daytime heating and potentially producing a few quick inches of snow across the higher terrain. The weather outlook for the weekend, and beyond, looks unseasonably warm as the dreaded “Rex Block” high pressure sets up over the western United States. Our next chance of precipitation, (note I did not say snow..) looks to be late next week. Grease those bike chains!

Today

High Temperature: 35-40
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: E
Sky Cover: Overcast
Snow: 0-2″

Tonight

Low Temperature: 20-25
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: S
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 0-1″

Tomorrow

High Temperature: 40-45
Wind Speed: 0-10
Wind Direction: W
Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
Snow: 0″

Mountain Weather March 12, 2015

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 03/12/2015

A broad trough is streaming Pacific moisture into Colorado this morning. The main dynamic forcing element for this system is afternoon convection, similar to summer thunderstorms, so snow showers will arrive this afternoon and intensify tonight. Passing cells could drop a quick 1″-3″ or so in some areas, and completely miss others. Trailing shortwave energy will keep weather unsettled into Saturday, before mild and dry weather takes hold by Sunday.

Today

High Temperature: 35
Wind Speed: 3-13
Wind Direction: W
Sky Cover: Overcast
Snow: 0-2″

Tonight

Low Temperature: 25
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: E
Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
Snow: 1-4″

Tomorrow

High Temperature: 32
Wind Speed: 2-12
Wind Direction: E
Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
Snow: 0-2″

Mt. Emmons

CBAC2014-15 Observations

NAME: Evan Ross
DATE: 3/11/15
LOCATION: Mt. Emmons
ELEVATION: 12,000-9,000
ASPECT: N
WEATHER: Thin overcast Clouds created a very warm greenhouse effect below ridgeline where there was no wind. At ridgeling winds where SW light with moderate gusts during the first half of the day.
SNOWPACK:
On north facing upper elevations (ATL/NTL) boot pen averaged about 20cm. HS was around 150cm-195cm on average. Feeling with a probe through the terrain, the PS structure was about 80cm thick with a relatively thin layer of weaker snow below. At these elevations the snow surface stayed dry despite the warm conditions. At lower elevations (BTL) snow surfaces where moist. No obvious or resent sings to instability noticed at all elevations.
ATL snow surfaces on South where still frozen at noon.

Mountain Weather March 11, 2015

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 3/11/15

Another balmy day is in store for you Vitamin D lovers. High clouds will increase this afternoon ahead of a weak storm pushing across the Great Basin. A cool front aided by afternoon convection could produce some spotty showers tomorrow afternoon into Friday, without much for accumulations. High pressure returns for the weekend.

Today

High Temperature: 42
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: SW, W
Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
Snow: 0

Tonight

Low Temperature: 25
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: NW
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 0

Tomorrow

High Temperature: 35`
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: SW, W
Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
Snow: 0-1″

Mountain Weather for Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 03/10/2015

Temperatures range from the low teens to 20s this morning, and light northwest winds blow at ridge top, as another day of tranquil spring-like weather is on tap again today. Temperatures will climb a few degrees higher than yesterday, with some convective cumulus forming this afternoon. A small, weakening weather system will spread over the area Thursday, but minimal snow accumulations are expected. High pressure re-establishes itself for the weekend and beyond.

Today

High Temperature: 40
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: NW
Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
Snow: 0″

Tonight

Low Temperature: 10-15
Wind Speed: 5-15
Wind Direction: S
Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
Snow:

Tomorrow

High Temperature: 40-45
Wind Speed: 10-20
Wind Direction: SW, W
Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
Snow: 0-1″

Red Lady Bowl

CB Avalanche Center2014-15 Observations

LOCATION: Crested Butte Area
DATE OF OBSERVATION: 03/09/2015
SUBJECT: Red Lady Bowl
ASPECT: South East
ELEVATION: ATL-NTL-BTL

 

AVALANCHES: No new avalanches or signs of instability observed

WEATHER: Clear skies, light wind on summit

SNOWPACK: The snow was surprisingly cold (and not soft) at 2:30 PM. Thin to moderate crusts were prevalent until low in the bowl and the only moist/soft snow was found on the southern-most slopes below treeline.

UPLOADS:

Snodgrass Observation

CBAC2014-15 Observations

NAME: Evan Ross
DATE: 3/9/15
LOCATION: Snodgrass
ELEVATION: BTL 
ASPECT: NE
WEATHER: Mostly clear, real warm again and no wind.
SNOWPACK:
Persistent slab structure is really scary in many places, yet we didn’t feel a single collapse traveling on a variety of slope angles and terrain features. Where the HS is deep, over 150cm say, the facets below the slab have more resistance and better bonding with one another. Where the HS is shallower the facets below the slab are fist hard and full sugar. Boot pen around 20-30cm on all slopes.
AVALANCHE OBS: 
All kinds of old carnage on this side of snodgrass. Most of the terrain over 35 degrees has already avalanched, but there are still a few pockets left.