Northern San Juan

Avalanche

m ackerman · Apr 3, 2020 · Northern San Juan

View on map

Weather

bluebird and cold start with steady SW winds and the occasional stout gust this AM. Active snow transport on summits and ridgetops observed through early aft. Temps warmed slowly with solar and wind ATL/NTL. Much warmer in sheltered areas BTL- splitter conditions

Snowpack

2 inches of new snow with a dash of graupel thown in-BTL, NTL/ATL averaged 3 inches in sheltered locales. Alpine was a mix of wind loaded terrain features, cornices of various shapes and sizes, soft spikey strugi next to welded, scoured and wind hammered icy surfaces. ATL, Fresh Wind skin, 5 to 15cm thick on NW>N>NE facing summit ridge. Localized cracking around skis. No movement, cracking or collapse on the thicker, more cohesive slab in the leeward start zone below the shoulder of the ridge.(6" HST) New snow bonded/rode well ATL & NTL but temp/solar crusts were encountered BTL and on more Westerly aspects NTL. West facing options ATL never really softened enough by early aft to lure the focus away from the norths.

Avalanche

1 small wind roll/cornice collapse onto a 35 degree, northwest facing slope at 12k