Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Karl Welter · Mar 5, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

11800' W aspect CLR Light N Wind BootPen 30cm HST 15-20cm

Snowpack

Avy 3 course group aimed to test the W aspect ATL for Persistent Weak Layer at Jan 7th interface. We dug a test pit at 11,880 in McMillan meadows, above St Paul hut. West aspect, 18 deg slope. Spatial variability with new wind scouring! HS ranging from 40cm-240. CTM 18 SC @ 50cm broke on DH 4mm ECT P 29 SC @50cm broke on DH 4mm Results also found Sudden Collapse on weak layer within storm snow, 20cm down. Our group wanted to test your forecast for Persistent Slab -- is it on West aspect? Yes.

Avalanche

We saw many today. 2 D1's near RMP trailhead off the W. Cliffs of Carbon -- AS SS 10m wide, 20cm deep, W aspect, 40* , 11,100 ft WINDSLAB D1 on Upper Sultan N aspect SS 40* Windslab? D1 on Red Mtn 3 S aspect; Loose Wet; AS? 40*? 12,600 ft D1 on Eagle slide path, Red Mtn Pass CDOT; N SS- 43* SSE aspect stepped down from Loose Wet to SS Numerous roller balls and D1's along Hwy 550 N of Silverton, S, E and W aspects below treeline.