Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Rachel Landis · Nov 7, 2015 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cold: air temperature was 3 degrees C at 1m in the shade at both 10a.m. and 3:30p.m.; Clear: sunny; no clouds Calm: Calm/no wind No precipitation

Snowpack

Snowpack was thin below treeline and on solar aspects (60cm), but was deeper on shady, wind-affected aspects (up to 100cm). ENE Aspects near TL had a lot of variability and went from 40cm storm slab resting on top of 20cm of a moist, consolidated layer at the ground to a make up comprised of 60-100cm of storm slab (F), 20-60cm windslab (1F), 0-10cm facets. N-E aspect above TL had more consistent windslab throughout. That said, we did not hear/see any signs of instability or energy transfer within the harder wind slabs. Solar aspects from 11,000-11,800 had a thin solar crust. All aspects Below and near TL had 3mm surface hoar. This was melting out on solar aspects, but still distinguishable...so fun to ski ;)

Avalanche

No evidence of avalanche activity, excepting a few small loose, sluffs in the new storm snow at N-facing cliff bands at 11,800.