Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnonymous · Feb 15, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Sunny, no wind, approx 30degrees F. Elevation 13,100. Aspect Northeast to east
Snowpack
Windboard on rotten snow in rocks. Just below the ridgeline. Firm conditions, wind riffle, breakable crust all existed.
Avalanche
A group of 9 was spread out over about 500 vertical feet on the NE face of Chicago Peak. The leader was moving out from above the group, across a slope depression from E facing to ESE facing, the snow became sun crusted wind board. He was stomping out a skin trail for better conditions to follow when the windboard broke approx 20 above him. It was rotten underneath and began to slide. It started quite slowly but then picked up speed and the leader was caught. He rode approx 500-600 feet landing partially buried (legs) on the surface. He was uninjured. The debris field was approx. 40m x 200m in size and was deep enough to bury a person in some sections of the debris. The victim lost his skis and walked out. The second person on the slope was on the edge of the slide and was able to arrest. The rest of the party was just south of the debris. The lower portion of the skin track was buried. No one in the party was feeling like we were in dangerous terrain as the area has been in stable condition for a few weeks. Upon reflection that seems to not be the case.