Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Anonymous · Dec 12, 2021 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Temps at/below TL 32-35F. Sky: Clear moving to Few in the late afternoon. Precip: No. Wind: SW at 25-30 mph above TL, below TL winds were light and intermittent. Perfect conditions for snow transport above TL. Observed intense and consistent loading of Northerly aspects above TL.

Snowpack

On the S-SE slopes we skied at and below TL, HS was 50-60cm. At the top was a 10-15cm, 4F wind board, on top of recent storm snow, (F hardness), with 10-15cm basal facets underneath. Thin and wind effected surface conditions, and not good skiing. Surface forms: Observed Surface Hoar, size 1-2mm, from 10,000 to 10,700 feet S-SE aspects.

Avalanche

Observed approximately 15 avalanches size D1 and D2, below, at and above TL, on aspects N-E that had run after the recent storm (last 48 hours). Observed 3 slides on N and NE aspects below TL that had propagated 150-200 feet. These avalanches were observed in the terrain North and East of Peak 12241, which is south of Prospect Gulch. Important to note the numerous avalanches we saw below TL and the propagation.