Southern San Juan
AvalancheEric Lee · May 31, 2016 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Direct sun for about 2hours before we skied the slope (12000-13200ft). The slope was slightly shaded at sunrise due to a neighboring ridgeline so did not receive the very first rays of sun. Snow had frozen overnight, but was warming quickly.
Snowpack
The summit (NW facing) consisted of a 6" crust on top of some facets that had not bonded or consolidated. This layer was also seen on Windom Peak (summit and North face) as well. The SE facing slope was softening corn on top of the crust. Quick examination showed no evidence of facets on the SE or E facing slopes, a full pit was not dug.
Avalanche
We skied off the summit along the SW ridge at 915am on Monday 5/30. My partner ski cut across the top of a convex roll at 12800ft, when two horizontal cracks propagated approximately 10ft and 40ft below him. The lower crack released approx 8-10" deep and 40ft wide and ran for 300-400ft down the face. Slow moving wet slide that only took the top layer with it. The more direct East facing aspect of this slope had several point release slides and some slides triggered by a small sections of cornice breaking off that ran the length of the face (1000ft). Most of the point release slides were triggered from rock bands and occurred before 5/30. Throughout the entire upper Chicago Basin point release slides were visible on all aspects above 12k, though the East and SE were the most prominent due to early morning sun and warming temperatures.