Southern San Juan

Avalanche

Clark Corey · Dec 28, 2014 · Southern San Juan

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Weather

Cold in the shade, warm in the sun. Solars in the mid elevations weren't getting gloppy, but felt like they were taking a little heat and might have a zipper crust today.

Snowpack

While touring up, the snowpack felt very shallow and weak, completely lacking a slab in most areas. Dug on the Deer Creek ridge, around 11,300ft, NE aspect in the trees. HS = 115cm and did not appear to be wind loaded. Snowpack was weak (lots of F and 4F snow), and boot pen was essentially to the ground. Lower pack consisted of facets, with one layer of DH (3 - 4mm, F hardness) near the ground. Mid pack to upper pack was right side up, trending from F to 1F- (top to bottom). CTH Q1 (SC) and ECTX on the lower layers, but did get an ECTP on a whale session after 30. Storm snow from this past week felt like it was bonded pretty well.

Avalanche

Observed avalanches were older, and looked like point releases. They were right at Coal Bank Pass, on the steep SSE facing slopes above the road. I think they were already noted in another obs.