Northern San Juan
SnowpackAnonymous · Mar 13, 2011 · Northern San Juan
Weather
22 degrees F at 7 AM. Scattered clouds.
Snowpack
Snowpack: Base layer of complete sugar, then upper layers more set up. South faces seem too slushy and heavy to do anything but collapse. North faces, however, are unstable and likely to slide under pressure.
Snow Surface: Varied. On south-facing slopes, coarse and heavy. On sunless slopes slightly more powdery.
Collapsing: Excessive on south-facing hillsides.
Riding Conditions: Poor. Snowpack unpredictable. Soft lower layers make it easy to get – and stay – stuck.
Comments: A snowmobiler triggered an avalanche on a north-facing slope. Slope angle roughly 45*. Said snowmobiler climbed a short distance up the slope, and then turned out and began descent. At that point, the slope fractured above, below, and on both sides of snowmobiler. The rider was able to ride over several fault lines and out into the flats in safety. No one else was in close proximity to the avalanche. After main part of slide reached a stop, another section to the left in the trees gave way as well. Fault line approximately 12-18 inches deep. Debris settled near base of the hill. Initial snow was wet and heavy, but as seen in picture, a good deal of sugary snow came down on top of it.
Snow Surface: Varied. On south-facing slopes, coarse and heavy. On sunless slopes slightly more powdery.
Collapsing: Excessive on south-facing hillsides.
Riding Conditions: Poor. Snowpack unpredictable. Soft lower layers make it easy to get – and stay – stuck.
Comments: A snowmobiler triggered an avalanche on a north-facing slope. Slope angle roughly 45*. Said snowmobiler climbed a short distance up the slope, and then turned out and began descent. At that point, the slope fractured above, below, and on both sides of snowmobiler. The rider was able to ride over several fault lines and out into the flats in safety. No one else was in close proximity to the avalanche. After main part of slide reached a stop, another section to the left in the trees gave way as well. Fault line approximately 12-18 inches deep. Debris settled near base of the hill. Initial snow was wet and heavy, but as seen in picture, a good deal of sugary snow came down on top of it.