Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey · Dec 23, 2018 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Cool day with intermittent light snow showers. Mountain tops became obscured around 1230 and snowfall started shortly thereafter. By later in the afternoon, skies began to break and were partly cloudy by 4 pm.
Snowpack
Traveled on north and northwest aspects up to 12,000 ft. Snowpack below and near treeline in general is very weak and unconsolidated. Found trail breaking to be difficult and easily collapsed through weak surface slab to boot-top while skinning. Boot penetration to the ground when stepping off skis both below and near treeline. Higher elevation, northerly-facing slopes were wind-scoured and snow depth was highly variable. Snow depth ranged from one foot up to four feet in wind-drifted areas. Isolated slopes with stiff slabs from recent wind-loading continue to produce propagating results in ECTs on buried facets around a crust, primarily near treeline. Skiing was challenging due to weak and unconsolidated snowpack. No sluffing observed in steeper terrain near or below treeline. Outside of propagating results in ECTs, no other signs of instability during tour.
Avalanche
No activity observed.