Northern San Juan
AvalancheJason Bushey · Jan 23, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Windy with temps in mid 20s. N and NW winds were prevalent all day in the 10-20mph range, loading leeward SE aspects. Mostly sunny with a couple broken clouds.
Snowpack
New snow 10cm in 24. Likely 20cm+ in 3 days with more in loaded areas from wind. Heat affected below treeline E facing slopes with the ability to make snowballs by 11am, but NE below treeline remained cold all day. Pit results on NE at treeline slope in a location similar to Sunday the 19th showed no healing in two layers within the top meter of snow since Sunday with shovel shears identifying layers 30cm and 50cm from surface. CT tests still reacted easily at 30cm and moderate at 50, both sudden planar. One area of collapsing and cracking on test 35 degree slope on shallow ridgeline slope where depth of snow ~70cm and highly faceted. In this area pole plants were easy to hit ground. SE facing slopes were loaded with fragile small cornices forming.
Avalanche
McMillian, NE aspect alpine, D2