Northern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey Mike Barney · Dec 2, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Clear, crisp day in the mountains. Steady northeast winds above treeline made it feel much colder than the ambient air temperature. Not a day to stand around in a snowpit!
Snowpack
Our recent string of cold, dry weather is winning the battle within the snowpack. Snow surfaces are rapidly faceting and becoming cohesionless. Shady, near treeline slopes are weakening quicker than higher elevation slopes or areas where snow depths are around a meter deep. Recent snowfall and north winds formed a thin, breakable wind-skin on the surface that was not thick enough to pose any new snow hazard or produce cracking outside of isolated drifts. Steeper north-facing slopes with around 8 to 12 inches of cohesionless facets did not sluff with ski pressure and we didn't feel that the weak snow surface would naturally sluff or avalanche without additional snow and wind. Lots of natural obstacles exist directly below the snow surface and below about 11,000 feet and taking even a small ride would be rough and bumpy.
Avalanche
None Observed.