Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Jeremy Yanko · Feb 17, 2022 · Northern San Juan

Weather

Cool and crisp with a consistent north wind.

Snowpack

HN24 at this location measured at 10cm between 10,400 and 12,200 ft. and found isolated drifts of new snow ranging from 12-20" in thickness. New snow available for transport seemed to be nearly exhausted by mid-day though. Overnight/early am winds loaded up some features above treeline on east and southeast aspects. There were several chances to test small slopes along the ascent for reactivity and potential propagation. I found it stubborn to effect the new snow over the old crust and facet combination layers (SE), or previous wind hardened surfaces (E) by having to stomp 2 or three times to initiate a crack 12-15" deep shooting no further than one more ski length away. Surface warming gave way to moist grains on SE by 11am near treeline, and for the most part, the new low density snow made it easy to still feel many of the old snow interfaces.

Avalanche

Placed an initial ski cut with good pressure off the top of the slope where depth of the newly drifted snow quickly increased from 10-20". Upon my second slope-cut where I believe the isolated slab failed, the depth had tapered to 6-10". The new F/4F- slab released on top of a decomposing 4" 1F hardness layer below.