Northern San Juan
SnowpackAnonymous · Mar 27, 2011 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Overcast skies. Lightly snowing. 8-10" of new snow overnight. Wind blowing snow out of the Southwest around 20 mph. Temperature was 27 degrees.
Snowpack
Weak layer at ground level noted through boot tests. Appeared to be ground level facet snow in place and continued up to 2 feet in snow pack from ground level. Very few hard pack layers above weak layers.
Second hand report: 2 friends snowmobiling. Riders took the old logging road that tops out at the North and Northwest face of Hermosa Peak.A first attempt to side hill the North face of the peak proved unsuccessful and dangerous. Riders turned around and located a small bowl on the Northwest face that appeared safe above treeline. Rider 1 ascended the slope first vertically and reached a spot about 200 feet above treeline where it was safe for him to wait for rider 2. Once stopped Rider 1 dismounted snowmobile to observe rider 2's ascent. He walked 5 feet from his snowmobile and heard the "woomf" noise and discovered a fracture taking place approx 20 feet below him. The fracture was approx 80 feet wide and fractured approx 3 feet down to ground level. The slide ran 185 feet to treeline near rider twos location and stopped. While the slide was running, rider 1 quickly returned to his snowmobile in order to ride out of harms way to a safer location. While returning to his snowmobile, he heard a second noise that had a more definite ice cracking sound. Stuart looked directly at the ground and noticed a vertical fracture had ascended between his legs. He was able to mount his snowmobile and ride to a safe location and return to rider twos location.
Both riders were wearing beacons that were turned on in transmit mode. Both riders also had probes and shovels. Both riders fell comfortable using beacons. To my knowledge none of the riders have taken an avalanche class.
Second hand report: 2 friends snowmobiling. Riders took the old logging road that tops out at the North and Northwest face of Hermosa Peak.A first attempt to side hill the North face of the peak proved unsuccessful and dangerous. Riders turned around and located a small bowl on the Northwest face that appeared safe above treeline. Rider 1 ascended the slope first vertically and reached a spot about 200 feet above treeline where it was safe for him to wait for rider 2. Once stopped Rider 1 dismounted snowmobile to observe rider 2's ascent. He walked 5 feet from his snowmobile and heard the "woomf" noise and discovered a fracture taking place approx 20 feet below him. The fracture was approx 80 feet wide and fractured approx 3 feet down to ground level. The slide ran 185 feet to treeline near rider twos location and stopped. While the slide was running, rider 1 quickly returned to his snowmobile in order to ride out of harms way to a safer location. While returning to his snowmobile, he heard a second noise that had a more definite ice cracking sound. Stuart looked directly at the ground and noticed a vertical fracture had ascended between his legs. He was able to mount his snowmobile and ride to a safe location and return to rider twos location.
Both riders were wearing beacons that were turned on in transmit mode. Both riders also had probes and shovels. Both riders fell comfortable using beacons. To my knowledge none of the riders have taken an avalanche class.