Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Nov 24, 2025 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Beautiful and sunny day with no wind.
Snowpack
Around 8" of new snow seemed to fall in this past weekend's storm. The mountains have a fresh coat of white, and now many obstacles are shallowly buried. On many east, west, and south-facing slopes above treeline and most slopes near and below treeline, the new snow fell on bare ground, and the snowpack is just the most recent storm snow. On the north and northeast slopes above treeline, the new snow fell in areas that preserved what little snow had fallen so far this season, and there is now some more distinct layering in the snowpack. Digging just below the grassy ridge on a north-facing slope ~12,600" I found 3 layers. The top was new snow over a hardened slab built by wind and settlement during the dry period, with facets and depth hoar at the ground. On an Extended Column Test (ECT), I got propagating failures at 18 hits (the 8th hit from the elbow), and on 23 hits (the third hit from the shoulder), the first and the new and old interface of the new snow, and the second in the layer of facets near the ground. The failure at the new/old interface was clearer and more distinct, with the failure in the facets broken. With the warm day and cold nights ahead of the next snowfall the new snow will qucikly facet and melt.
Avalanche
A few small natural avalanches were observed on north slopes above treeline. An avalanche near a popular run called the "Grande" looked a bit fresher and had an unknown trigger.