Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Jonathan Cooper · Dec 15, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Clearing skies throughout the day. Cold 14F warming up by midday. Strong ridge-top winds. Light winds BTL.

Snowpack

Shallow snowpack <60cm BTL, increasing depth with elevation. 20-30cm's storm snow over weak faceted snow. Observed numerous rumbling collapses and shooting cracks on N - E - S - W aspects at all elevations. Several natural avalanches observed BTL/NTL/ATL mostly on N - E facing aspects. Touchy!!

Avalanche

~10,400' N Aspect Steep slope lining the main drainage. Triggered as a rider cut underneath it. ~50' wide ran ~100' D1 soft slab broke at the old snow interface.