Southern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Welch · Feb 16, 2023 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Cold in the AM but warmed to pleasant temperatures by midday. Saw occasional snow plumes off the higher peaks but winds were generally calm or non-existent below treeline, even in exposed areas. Clear and sunny.
Snowpack
Around 8-10" of new snow at trailhead at 8100', about a foot on exposed W and SW aspects around 10k, and closer to 2ft on NE aspects between 10,200 and 10,600. Dug a hasty pit (got snowmobile stuck....) on low angle NE facing slope around 10,300' and observed fairly easy shovel shears at the interface between old and new snow. No cracking or collapsing observed however, and small slopes and road cuts approaching 30 degrees were not reactive under the weight of snowmachines.
Avalanche
No natural or human triggered avalanches were observed.