Northern San Juan
AvalancheJack Breezley · Dec 23, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Prospect Gulch, north facing, ~11,700 ft. Low clouds in the morning today which lifted around noon time, temperature increased significantly after the clouds lifted and wind picked up at about 1pm. I was in this same are back on Wednesday and this slide hadn’t occurred yet. The wind event began Wednesday so I suspect the two slides went Wednesday night through Thursday night, due to wind loading.
Snowpack
Thin and sparse at the top of the crowns. On the opposite side of the valley where I was (south facing near tree line) there was anywhere from 1-2 feet comprised of two layers: depth hoar comprising most of the lower half of the snowpack and an ever stiffening slab from either wind loading or scalping, SE aspects have been lodged in this area and SW aspects have been windward. There was 1-2 inches of new snow this morning which quickly bonded after the sun came out at noon and warmed it up.
Avalanche
2 small slide, north facing, ~11,700 feet, adjacent to the south from the Galena mine in Prospect Gulch. I’d estimate them to be R1 D1 at most.