Unhappy structure in Happy Chutes

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/12/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Subject: Unhappy structure in Happy Chutes
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9000-9400 ft

Avalanches: We descended slopes up to ~38 degrees with no avalanche activity.
Weather: Broken skies, calm winds, no precip.
Snowpack: Hollow snowpack structure produced widespread cracking ~5 to 15 feet and localized collapsing. 12″, semi-supportive (on skis) soft slab over fist hard facets, consistent structure across all terrain that we traveled. Propagating results in ECT and PST. Small storm slab management still seems to apply here, and it felt like the slab is a little too soft/thin for avalanching or propagating on most features, except for very steep, unsupported, or wind stiffened slopes. Not much additional load needed here for widespread persistent slab issues.

12_12_16-Happy-Chutes-Pit-Profile
DSCN1180-001
wow, we have bright orange hats. And cracking snow.
Lots of localized collapses and cracks.