Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnonymous · Feb 26, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
clear all day and light winds from NW, freezing line around 12,000'
Snowpack
perhaps 7-10cm of snow from recent storm in Bear Mtn north bowl.
Avalanche
We triggered a small (D1) wind slab avalanche near treeline on a steep (35 degree) slope on a NE aspect. Avalanche was ~50 ft across, crown ranged from 4 inches to 16 inches deep, ran 150 vertical feet. Surface of the slope that avalanched looked smooth and powdery, and the skiing on that slope was deeper and softer than in other wind affected areas. Avalanche was triggered at the apex of one of my turns, and did not catch or carry any in our party. No whumph heard when I triggered the avalanche. Feature that avalanched was a small concave feature below cliffs on one side, slope was more planar and lower angle to the skiers L.