Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Ann Mellick · Feb 3, 2022 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Sunny, but very cold winter's day.

Snowpack

Easterly slopes near and below treeline hold a mixed bag of conditions with either full depth facets or some crusts mixed in. Anything with a southerly tilt holds surface crusts, while northerly facing slopes do not. The snowpack on northerly below treeline has no slab, just full depth facets with a thin cap of new snow. The alpine remains mixed as well with localized pockets of firm fresh slab but I did not find any that were contiguous enough to pose a threat. Southeast slopes above treeline are very thin (from heavy wind-stripping and then abundant sun). The height of snow averaged only 50-65 cm and the upper pack was a laminar crust/facet sandwich with facets below.

Avalanche

Just some harmless point releases from steep rocky areas at all elevations.