Southern San Juan

Avalanche

Josh Kling · Jan 6, 2017 · Southern San Juan

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Weather

S1-S2 all day. Hermosa Park Road, 9,200 ft, east aspect 0900 AM. T-Air -1C . OVC, S2. wind light to none.

Snowpack

Drove sleds up the Cascade Divide Road towards Grizzly Peak and then Relay Creek Road towards East Fork Sig Creek. Road was un-groomed. This was during a Level 1 course. Did 15+ hand shears & 15+ compression tests. All failed on easy approximately 50 CMs down. These were on a variety of aspects from NE around to SW. Did one ECT- X on a 36 degree slope, W aspect at 10,200 ft. Avg HS was only 80 CMs throughout the tour. Max HS found was 145cm on a NE aspect @ 10,530. Did a variety of tests with the snowmobiles as well. Despite the easy and very easy fractures with all the small columns tests, we could not get any fracturing or cracking with the sleds. On the ride back the road had been groomed. The cat left a great example of the storm slab over the snow beneath it visible in the attached picture.

Avalanche

No natural or human triggered avalanches observed.