Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Mark Mueller · Feb 7, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cloudy skies, temperatures in the 20s, and moderate NW winds. Slumgullion Snotel showing over 1" HSTW, Wager Gulch 0.8". 7" on the Highway stake. Measured 6"/0.5" in the Windy Point parking lot.

Snowpack

Strong northwest winds causing significant wind deposition. Scouring observed on exposed northerly aspects above treeline. Thin, fragile snowpack below treeline may be the most problematic, but recent loading not sufficient to cause natural avalanching.

Avalanche

Isolated small, harmless loose snow avalanching along the highway corridor. Clouds prevented observation of most of the above treeline terrain at this end of the North San Juan zone.