Southern San Juan

Avalanche

Andrew klotz · Dec 11, 2020 · Southern San Juan

View on map

Weather

heavy snow turning to blue skies at around 11,000, NE and E.

Snowpack

60 cm height of snow. About 20 cm of storm snow total before we left. Right side up snowpack, where we were, with new snow on top of 4f facets or harder crusts with a pencil hard frozen facets at the base.

Avalanche

No naturals observed. During the storm this morning surprised at how reluctant the new snow was to move off old crust and facet layers. finally got loose snow to run fast a ski width about 100 feet on very steep (40+) terrain (D1). But by the time we left the storm snow was already setting up enough and getting reactive with some shooting cracks out to 10 feet from our skis on an east aspect Skiing supportable on the E facing crusts, but overall frighteningly thin in this below deadfall strewn and rocky terrain. Not the place I am going to be if we get more snow this week.