Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Mike Barney Ann Mellick · Jan 14, 2021 · Northern San Juan

Weather

Cold and windy day. Moderate north wind increased to strong by midday.

Snowpack

The headline today was WIND: Strong and steady northerly winds pressed and eroded the snow in the alpine zone. Snow was either sublimating or being deposited on southerly aspects. While the wind was fierce, there was not much available snow to move, so any new slabs are likely thin. The wind also affected open areas below treeline and a thin wind crust had formed from last night/today's winds. South-facing slopes at 10,800 feet are 30 to 40cm deep with a 5 to 10cm thick melt freeze crust above facets. The snowpack on north aspects below treeline is a bit variable: supportive in open areas, but very weak and faceted (with ski penetration almost to the ground) in the thick trees. Snowpack pit tests showed clean failures with moderate to hard effort. We did not experience any cracking nor collapsing where we traveled today.

Avalanche

Large old natural avalanches on Red 1 that likely failed on 12/29. One small north east facing avalanche that looked more recent on Hayden Peak below the new weather station.