Field Report
Gunnison - CO
Report Information
Notable wind drifting today with flagging off alpine peaks developing by mid-morning. Thin wind slabs were forming on some leeward terrain features at high elevations. Winds kept wet loose avalanche concerns in check on wind-exposed terrain where we traveled, while protected cirques were getting wet and produced rollerballs. There is still 6 to 10 inches of dry snow on high northerly slopes, which was getting redistributed by today's winds in some areas.
Original CBAC ob: https://cbavalanchecenter.org/view-observations/#/view/observations/c9195daa-4179-404a-9fb6-87f84b600e46
Queen Basin
Traveled on various aspects of Red Ridge and Queen Basin to 12,400'
Avalanches
A handful of small wet loose avalanches ran yesterday or today from higher elevation, sunbaked terrain. There was a destructive cornice fall and slab avalanche off Baldy that appeared new (viewed from afar). Ski triggered a couple of harmless wind slabs.
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Expand to see more details
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Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type | Location |
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04/21/2025
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2 | >TL | N | SS | AS/c | D1 | Wind Slab |
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Date and Time
04/21/2025 -
12:00pm
(known)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
12,200 ft
Sliding Surface
S
Avg Depth
20 cm
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04/20/2025
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1 | >TL | SE | WL | N | D1.5 | Loose Wet |
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Date and Time
04/20/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
12,000 ft
Sliding Surface
I
Avalanche Comments
Likely ran 4/20 or 4/21 |
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04/20/2025
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1 | >TL | SE | WL | N | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date and Time
04/20/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
12,200 ft
Sliding Surface
I
Avalanche Comments
Likely ran 4/20 or 4/21 |
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04/21/2025
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2 | TL | E | WL | N | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date and Time
04/21/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
11,800 ft
Avalanche Comments
Likely ran 4/20 or 4/21 |
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04/21/2025
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2 | TL | E | WL | N | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date and Time
04/21/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
11,600 ft
Avalanche Comments
Likely ran 4/20 or 4/21 |
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04/21/2025
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3 | TL | E | WL | N | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date and Time
04/21/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
11,800 ft
Avalanche Comments
Likely ran 4/20 or 4/21. One of these was previously reported and ran on 4/19. |
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04/21/2025
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1 | >TL | NE | HS | N | D2.5 | Persistent Slab |
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Date and Time
04/21/2025 -
12:00pm
(estimated)
Location
38.969
-106.948
Start Zone Elevation
12,600 ft
Sliding Surface
O
Avalanche Comments
I viewed this large avalanche from a distance, so the details are estimated. The brown stains appear fresh and are not covered by last weekend's snow, so I'm guessing the slide occurred in the past two days, perhaps during today's increased winds and warmer temperatures. The cornice triggered a slab avalanche that broke deep on old layers. |
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Multiple Avalanches
Snowpack
Ski cut a few thin wind slabs in a steep northerly gulley. Slabs were 3" to 8" thick, forming from today's blowing snow.
Weather
Moderate to strong winds produced ongoing light to moderate snow transport off of alpine terrain today. Clouds increased midday. cloud cover: few; wind loading: moderate; snow avail for transport: small smounts