Southern San Juan
AvalancheAlex Haddad · Jan 30, 2025 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Clear, sunny skies for the entire day with moderate to strong winds from the north all afternoon.
Snowpack
Below treeline 5-10 cms of new snow sits over a crust on solar aspects, and the crust is supportable. On non-solars or in sheltered areas below treeline the new snow sits over a snowpack that is made entirely of faceted snow. Near treeline there was consistently 10 cms of new snow. On a northwest-facing slope at 11,600' the height of snow was 120 cms. The top 20 cms of the snow consisted of several thin melt freeze crusts with 4-finger hardness facets between the crusts. This sits over about 10 cms of near surface facets and surface hoar. The bottom 65 cms of the snowpack is faceted, but it is generally right side up. I had ECTN-1 11 cms down. On east, south, and west facing slopes near treeline there was a supportable crust covered by 10-20 cms of 4-finger hardness, wind drifted snow.
Avalanche
Gibbs Creek drainage, northeast-facing slope, at ~11,000'