Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Kevin Nikolaides · Apr 17, 2022 · Northern San Juan

View on map

Weather

38 degrees at 8,500' before sunrise. Much colder up high, clouds breaking up by 7am and warmed up fast. Light breeze throughout the day

Snowpack

South aspect above 13k had a ~4" slabby layer on top of a consolidated base. It seemed to have bonded well but as it was warming it showed signs of breaking away more easily. We were out of that area by 1130 and I wouldn't have wanted to be there any later. Below 13k S aspects had a breakable melt freeze crust on top of several inches of loose snow above a consolidated base. On the way back to the trailhead there was some corn, dusty pow, breakable crust... a little bit of everything

Avalanche

Large natural avalanche on W aspect of potosi peak (highest crown approx 13k)