Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey, Jason Konigsberg · Jan 30, 2019 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Clear day with not much wind and no observed wind loading.
Snowpack
The snowpack in this area is much thinner than the deep snowpack areas of Wolf Creek Pass. Snowpack depth was observed at less than a meter in most areas. Windward westerly and due north slopes are very thin and scoured near ridgetop. Northeast, east, and southeast slopes hold the most snow and are the only slopes right now with enough of a slab to cause any issues. The snowpack structure on a southeast-facing slope near treeline was thin with a slab 2 feet thick sitting on weak four-finger hard depth hoar. Overall this particular portion of the South San Juan zone is weak and shallow. Although the snowpack is stabilizing at the present, any large storm would surely intiate a a natural avalanche cycle. Also, the surface is very weak and faceted.
Avalanche
Evidence of large avalanches in this area around the 1/18 time period.