Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 03/21/2017
Name: Tim Brown
Date of Observation: 03/21/2017
Name: Tim Brown
Subject: Axtell
Aspect: North, North East, West
Elevation: 9,600 – 11,700
Aspect: North, North East, West
Elevation: 9,600 – 11,700
Avalanches:
Weather: Skies were clear at 8am, but clouds increased to produce mostly cloudy skies by noon. Light SW winds at 11,700′ @ 11am.
Snowpack: 10-15cm refreeze on mid-elevation west-facing forested slopes was still supportable (no ski penetration) at 11am. HS 2m.
Previously wind-loaded snow on steep north and northeast aspects above treeline was still dry and “chalky.” Snowpack tests on the mostly pencil-hard upper snowpack produced no results (ECTX on 40* slope, NE aspect @ 11,700′). Snow on northerly aspects near and below treeline was still supportable (10cm ski pen) at noon, but the crust was only ~5cm thick with moist snow below it for at least 60cm. HS 2m