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Crested Butte Avalanche Center

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March 27, 2023

Recent large avalanches in Red Lady and Whetstone

Date of Observation: 03/27/2023
Name: Eric Murow

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: HWY 135 observations

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Large avalanche ran in Red Lady Bowl – I would suspect it ran today while wind-loaded. Large natural avalanche on the easterly side of M-Face on Whestone. This avalanche appeared to break fairly deep with rocks exposed; this feature is unsupported from below.
Weather: I observed moderate wind-loading above treeline onto easterly aspects.
Snowpack:


Photos:

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Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1

Location

Location: Mount Emmons
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: SE

Characteristics

Trigger:
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Unknown

Size

Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):

Involvements

# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:

Additional comments: Red Lady Bowl. Poor image quality but debris looked fresh through binoculars.

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Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1

Location

Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE

Characteristics

Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type:
Failure Plane: Old snow

Size

Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):

Involvements

# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:

Additional comments: Broke deep with rocks exposed, but unsupported from below. This avalanche could be east or northeast…hard to say for sure.

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