Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Aaron Ball · Mar 7, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Approximately 200 meters NE from the Addie S Hut on RMP. Air temp was -4.5 deg C. Winds were light out of the North, but highly variable and shifting direction constantly. Sky was overcast and snowfall was approximately 1cm an hour. Foot penetration was 40 cm.

Snowpack

Test pit to establish a baseline profile for Level 2 course. HS was 210cm, but pit was dug only to 150cm. Approximately 17 cm of new snow had fallen in the previous 24 hours, and had fallen on a thin (2cm) melt freeze crust. Crust overlaid another 10cm layer of decomposing fragments, which also capped a thin (2cm) melt-freeze crust. The resistance in the mid pack below progressively increased to approximately 150 cm down where basal facets began to dominate the snowpack and weaken. Two crusts were notable between 65 and 75 cm down. Snowpack test results did not fail on any of the previously identified layers. However, no sudden results were observed, only resistant planar and progressive compression.

Avalanche

Some very small loose dry avalanches were observed among cliffs just east of our location.