Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/14/2018
Name: Eric murrow
Subject: Emmons
Aspect: South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 9,400 – 12,400
Avalanches:
Saw several D2 avalanches for this past weeks natural cycle. They were NE and E aspects just above treeline in alpine terrain. Photos included. They appeared to have failed towards end of last week as crowns were easily still visible.
Weather: Clear day with light winds and occasional light gusting. Saw small amounts of blowing snow in most exposed alpine locations. Snow surfaces were moist on southerlies above treeline.
Snowpack: Punched a quick hole on a SSE slope, 25*, at 11,400 and found a stack of facets and weak crusts. Not a lot of slab like structure in this protected location. Generally fist and 4finger minus facets with weak 1 – 2cm crust sandwiched between. Didn’t look particularly hazardous at moment but def weak and dangerous if it gets loaded.
On descent through Evans Basin found generally shallow weak snow. At around 10,000ft, in very low angle terrain, our group got several collapses on SE slopes. At similar elevation, we crossed above a short steep NE facing slope above creek bed and with several forceful jumps, we were able to collapse and shattered slope, but it failed to release.
Watched several groups ski Red Lady Bowl without incident. Also watched first member of a group ski Redwell Basin without incident (this was a few hundred feet adjacent a natural D2 avalanche from a few days ago).
Photos:
