Northern San Juan
AvalancheColton Frasier · Feb 27, 2023 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Partly cloudy with light to moderate winds from W/SW gaining strength in the alpine. Generally near freezing to below. 24 hour storm total >6 inches.
Snowpack
One rolling collapse NTL NE facing ridge that leads to Sultan North. Triggered near small tree. Test results dug in North facing meadow below Python were in the hard category with fractures that were irregular and non planar or did not cross the entire column. Fractures initiated on the new and old snow interface buried 50 cm down (ECTN26, CT25 BKN @50cm). Snowpack height was 146cm, mostly comprised of round or rounding grains above weak, rounding depth hoar approx. 2mm.
Avalanche
One very large avalanche on the North face of consolation ridge. Unknown natural trigger and unknown date, most likely in the last few days due to irregular wind loading. Another large, natural avalanche with an unknown trigger was noted on the E/SE facing ridge into Sultan Basin, again running in the last few days.