Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/23/2017
Name: Ian Havlick
Date of Observation: 02/23/2017
Name: Ian Havlick
Subject: Washington Gulch to Gothic
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South
Elevation: 9000-11400
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South
Elevation: 9000-11400
Avalanches: Before dropping Snodgrass NE facing slope of 35-38ยบ, ski cut produced a stubborn to run, 8″ storm slab, propagation to a 30 wide slab, running as a sluff. Harmless, but enough cohesion in slab and weak enough buried near surface facets to run.
Weather: Near whiteout at TH to start, with improving visibility and decreasing winds and snow early afternoon. Cold temps, dropping during the day. Winds 40mph on ridge lines, and honking up high.
Snowpack: WIND. biggest player yesterday. 8-10″ dense, creamy new snow with drifts 1-4 feet deep. Significant cornice development, cracking on steep windloaded features.
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