Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 27, 2024 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Wind transport on top of ridges and on top of all the peaks but seemed to subside throughout the day. Calm winds BTL and NTL. Very cold temps of 13 degrees this morning and sunny.
Snowpack
We observed the snowpack having a poor structure as indicated across the state. Facets at the ground ranging from around mid ski pole to full ski pole length while touring BTL, NTL, and ATL throughout the day in different areas on the northerly side of the Red Mountain Pass. While entering into NTL zones on North to NorthWest Aspects I noticed the cracking of wind slabs in isolated wind effected areas. It was very thin wind skin with no collapsing or whumps. Lots of cross loading ATL where I found thick wind slabs that were hard to penetrate with a ski pole end. Some areas had more soft wind slabs about 2-3 feet thick but nothing was consistent while touring in these different zones today. We did not dig or do any tests today. I received a text from a friend who indicated they got an ECTP16 on a South Face the day before. I also received a photo of their pit they did these test from and it was interesting they were finding a PS on south facing aspects.
Avalanche
11,600' approximately on a North West Face skiers right of the normal Hollywood line below Red Mountain No.3 - Skier 1 was on skis and skier 2 was on a splitboard. As Skier 1 prepared his line and as we discussed our stopping points, Skier 2 positioned her splitboard so she could ride near that same line which cause her to move out onto the slope a little farther from the protection of the rockband with small trees above them. Skier 2 then sat down and positioned herself in a comfortable position to keep eyes on Skier 1. We both discussed if anything were to go it would probably be no bigger than a D1 given all the shallow rock outcroppings that would discontinue any chance of a full propagation across the slope. Skier 1 dropped onto the slope doing a ski cut with a couple hops to see if he would get any results or information from the snowpack. As Skier 1 headed down the slope he took 1 turn toward the gully which remote triggered the slope above skier 2. The slope that propagated avalanched down the gully away from Skier 2 which then caused a sympathetic avalanche to propagate right where Skier 2 was sitting. Given she was on a snowboard and sitting she was unable to take a step up the hill where she would have missed taking a ride. The avalanche continued to propagate more which looked like another sympathetic avalanche. This avalanche went to the ground and in some places the crown appeared to be at least 7 feet and a small as 1 foot. The crown was about 600 feet across and ran about 700 feet. Skier 2 took the ride for about 150-200'. When the avalanche came to a stop on the shelf Skier 2 was buried up to her hip and had to dig herself out. . Skier 1 had stopped before the discussed point due to Skier 2 yelling on the radio about the avalanche and about her then being in the avalanche. He was then able to skin up to her, but she was already out of the avalanche debris. No injuries.