Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Chris Dickson · Dec 28, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Variable storm day out there. Overcast to obscured skies. Precipitation and wind speeds intensified in pulses as bands of the storm blew through, S-1 earlier in the day and S2 nukage in the later afternoon. Winds were moderate out of the west then became gusty and strong SW, transporting snow along the ridge tops and building cornices. Temps were warm, stayed in the upper 20s all day.

Snowpack

New snow increased with elevation, up to 20cms at 11,800’. It fell on a variety of surfaces (suncrusts, wind slabs, near surface facets) and it’s not bonding well to most of them... New snow slid easily on old snow in hand shears. At 11,400’, there’s now over 55cms of “newer” snow on top of our December 11 PWL. ECTs produced easy propagating results on the new/old snow interface (ECTP3, 15cms down) , and the PWL (ECTP14, 55cms down). Both fractures were Q1 in quality.

Avalanche

Triggered a small wind pocket on a gully sidewall.