Northern San Juan
AvalancheDon Moden · Feb 4, 2014 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Red Mountain Pass West - Southwest 11,400 Had just finished a strong SW wind cycle and winds had switched to NW the night before.
Snowpack
Red Mountain Pass West - Southwest 11,400 Wind slab over hard crust with persistent layers
Avalanche
SW Carbon Cliffs 11,400 To the south end of the cliffs (opposite the north Longfellow Mine end) there is an old tree stump showing (it usually does all winter). The small group of pine trees up and to the south about 20-feet is a known fracture point for this site. I've triggered it a number of times and if you don't know it is there skiers have taken rides to the bottom. I skied five various lines in this area on this day. A wind slab fracture occurred at the location mentioned above on my 4th lap, but I didn't see it. On my 5th lap I saw it when entering the area and quick cut skiers left along the fracture and down safely. It was about 8" deep and the fracture was about 30' long. The fracture gap was at most 6" to 8" inches and never slid. The concern if it slid would be a step down into one or more of the persistent layers.