Observer: Ross (Irwin Guides)
Date: 12/10/14
Location: Redwell Basin
Elevation: 12400-8900
Aspect: N
Weather: Sunny mid 30’s no precip or wind, strong solar

Snowpack/Avalanche Obs: From Kebler trail head the snow pack is thin and variable. On the south and south west aspects there is a sun crust that is somewhat supportable. Snow depths range from 10 to 20cm. Still powdery in the shaded areas. As you gain in elevation the snow depth increases with moist surface snow on sunny south facing aspects. At higher elevations 11500 wind scouring has reduced snow amounts to 10cm. Pockets of drifted snow exists in sheltered areas.

Redwell basin at 12300 has a week faceted snowpack especially around the rock bands. A slight wind crust exists at higher elevations and decreases as you drop in elevation. Snow depths range from 30cm to 50cm. No instabilities seen. At lower elevations the snow pack is week and shallow and through the waterfall section of redwell stumps and rocks are covered by 20cm of week faceted snow. At the bottom of redwell……its damm scary!!

Name: MR
Title: Coon Basin and Climax Chutes
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/10/2014
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation: 9,000 to 12,000

Snowpack: Skied a northeastern aspect of Coon, 15cm on a supportive crust. Top of climax northeast aspect found unconsolidated facets to the ground. Significant sluffing which ran with noteworthy energy the length of the upper chute until it chokes out in aspens. Dipping off the ridge and onto a more easterly aspect at maybe 10,500 the snowpack felt like more of a cohesive slab so we returned to skiing the shallow ridge. Lower down and back onto the northeastern aspect we again skied facets to the ground.

Name: Zach Guy
Title: Near Lake Irwin
Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/10/2014
Aspect: North West
Elevation: Below treeline

Snowpack: The top 3″ of the snowpack is small (1mm), near surface facets, fist hardness. The midpack is consistent, 4F to 1F-, mostly rounded grains. No results in any stability tests. Much different snowpack than what I’ve observed recently closer to town.

Name: Donny (Irwin Guides)
Title: Coon Basin
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/09/2014
Aspect: North East, East, South East, South
Elevation: 9185′ to 12,080′

Weather: Clear, Warm (above freezing at low elevations, near freezing at upper elevations), calm to light wind on ridge tops

Snowpack: HS of 0cm at trailhead to 75 – 90 cm in wind loaded areas. Generally weak structure with facets throughout snowpack. Ski pen of 5 to 10 cm in most areas. Ski pen of 20cm in upper slopes of Coon Basin. Boot pen of 70 cm on wind loaded pocket above Climax Chutes. Highly variable snowpack which doesn’t produce avalanche activity or signs of instability; but doesn’t inspire confidence either. No recent avalanche activity observed. Lower elevations and steeper slopes with SE-S-SW aspect are warming significantly and the crust seems to get thicker by the day.

Name: Ross (Irwin Guides)
Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/09/2014
Aspect: North, North East, West, North West
Elevation: 12200-9000

Weather: Clear sunny day. Cold night with temps in the valley at 10f @ 7.30 temps increased with elevation. Strong solar, little to no wind at the ridge top of scarps. Doesn’t get much better than this from a temp stand point. more snow needed….please.

Snowpack: Thin snow pack at the top of scarps, 10cm. Obvious wind scouring on the ridge top. A mix of shallow facets and sun crust depending on aspects to the sun. Small cornice build up at the top of the ridge. Skied legends into peeler basin. Surprisingly supportive snow pack with no instabilities or sloughing seen. 10-15 cm of ski pen and excellent early season skiing. Variable snow pack depth ranging from 30-50cm of snow. Strong mid pack, supportive.
Snow pack decreased in strength and depth as you descended in elevation. Tried to ski northern facing slopes between Garfield and Peeler but low snow didn’t allow an access. Snow on the northern slopes leading into the ob be joyful basin at 11800 was thin, week and faceted. Skied across the SW face of peeler on a variety of sun crust and cold snow to access more northern slopes dropping into the ob be joyful basin. Week faceted snow ranging in depth from 30-40cm at 10500 to 25-30cm at 9700. Small facet sloughs observed on terrain greater than 30 degrees. A mix of sun crust and week facets exist on the valley bottom. Surface hoar is growing and exist in a variety of locations, deeper on shaded lower valley locations.

Name: Ross (Irwin Guides)
Title: Snodgrass
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/08/2014
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 10300-9400

Weather: sunny, no wind, no precip

Snowpack: The approach from Washington gulch was mixed with a variety of sun crusts and facets. Thin snow pack 15-20 cm on this W-SW aspect. Variable week and faceted snow pack on the NE aspect. depth range from 50cm to 20cm dependent on elevation and aspect. Snow around bushes and tall grass trap door like and punchy. no activity observed. Facet skiing for the most part but not yet totally rotten. the cold nights this week will take its toll on the snow pack in this location. Surface hoar will potentially create problems when buried after new snow fall.

Name: Irwin Guides (CBMG)
Title: Irwin Guides (CBMG) Obs from Mt. Emmons
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/09/2014
Aspect: North, North East, East
Elevation: 9000-11,400

Weather: FEW, LIGHT WINDS, NO PRECIP

Snowpack: CRESTED BUTTE ZONE (Mount Emmons

Snowpack/Avalanche Obs: Generally quite faceted snowpack 40-120cm deep, ski pen ~10cm, boot pen close to ground.  Although faceted and poor structure as far as avalanche, snowpack still holding onto a supportive structure for enjoyable touring.  SH and FCsf dominate surface, and ~1mm FC throughout “midpack” with 3-4mm dry Depth hoar within 10cm of ground.  No signs of instability and no evidence of previous avalanches.  CT12, CT11, ECTP12, ECTP15 @ 5cm above ground with snowpack of 50cm.  Slab ~F+ to 4F- hardness over F hard, dry, depth hoar. this structure will be quite problematic when we see snow.  Very continuous, persistent weak layer and ability to step down to ground will be high.

Uploads:

Name: Nick Schley
Title: Snodgrass Study Plot
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/08/2014
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9,770 ft.

Snowpack: No signs of instability. See profile.

Uploads: