Field Report

Grand Mesa - CO

2024/12/02
Lat: 39.053, Lon: -107.964
Backcountry Area: Grand Mesa
Author: Jewel Campbell
Organization: CAIC

Report Information

Observation Summary

The snowpack was soft throughout with no propagation in snowpack tests. Snow coverage was 2-3 feet.

Area Description

southern Grand Mesa near Visitors Center

Route Description

From the east side of Island lake, I toured to about 10,700' along a feature just south of Crag Crest

Avalanches

I looked over the slopes that typically avalanche in this area however the south slopes did not have enough snow coverage and the north slopes were glued in place.

Snowpack

Cracking: None
Collapsing: None

Snow depths ranged from 60-80cm but coverage was inconsistent on southern aspects. The deepest snow was on west and north slopes.
Snowpack structure was similar from west to north to east aspects with near surface facets at the surface, about a foot of decomposing precipitation particles from the Thanksgiving storm, and large facets/developing depth at the bottom. The entire snowpack was fist hard throughout. (With the exception of a wind-affected area on a northeast slope where I found the only dense snow)
Extended column tests consistently broke but did not propagate at the Thanksgiving storm interface. (west, northwest, north, northeast, and east slopes were all tested)

Weather

Temps were in the 30s all day, no breeze and light, high clouds.

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