Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Chase Wesley · Jan 30, 2016 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Overcast, 30 min of moderate snowfall, estimate 2.5 cm fell. Temps were around 32 degrees until mid afternoon where they approached 38.

Snowpack

Snowpack was interesting. 100-135 cm depths. Mostly crusty because of eastern slopes and the last sunny days. Snow in trees and on more northern aspects was much colder and powder like. Dug a pit at 10,500 on a 20 degree slope. 120 cm depth, 3 noticed weak layers: 10 cm, 60cm and 120 cm. 10cm was a melt freeze crust, 60cm( 3cm thick) and 120 (5cm) was facets. Did a 2 compression test. Test 1 was 23 taps before failure, with jagged propagation. Broke at the 10cm weak later. 2nd test was 1 tsp and was a clean collapse at the 10 cm layer. Continued test on the remaining column and no results were achieved after 30 taps.

Avalanche

None.