Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey · Apr 12, 2024 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Cool at the start, but temperatures moderated mid-morning under sunny skies and light wind.
Snowpack
The main wet snow hazard interface is around 2 feet deep on most near and below treeline slopes. This layer ranges 10 to 15 cm thick, 1F- to 4F hardness, and water is visible at the meniscus between adjacent snow grains. We observed propagating failures in ECTs and sudden planar failures in CTs with 11 taps in wet, clustered grains. These results are likely due to cutting the ice masses and breaking their tensile strength. However, as these overlying layers soften from additional meltwater, rider-triggered wet slab potential likely increases. Foot penetration was generally shallow to start, but got deeper as surfaces softened. We found recent bear tracks that ranged from a few inches deep along the snow covered road, but increased to a foot once Mr. Bear traveled off piste. Due north aspects near and below treeline are the only spots holding on to drier upper snowpack layers - although they are starting to lose the battle. Snow surfaces on northerlies above 12,000 feet remain cold and chalky.
Avalanche
Only recent natural activity we could see on the landscape were small, Loose Wet avalanches. Lots of rollerballs on southerly aspects at all elevations.