Northern San Juan
AvalancheChris Dickson · Dec 6, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Partly cloudy becoming overcast with warm ambient temperatures. Light winds.
Snowpack
Investigated snowpack structure prior to incoming storm and found that recent warm temperatures have settled the most recent snow (post 11/29) into a 4F slab that sits upon well developed facets and a crust/facet combo on W thru N thru E aspects below treeline. This soft slab is failing easily, producing sudden planar fractures in CTs and ECTs. In this area of the NSJs, it would appear our P.Slab problem is also found on W aspects below and near treeline. No surface faceting or surface hoar was observed on the snow surface.
Avalanche
Observed a natural R1-D1 on a NE aspect below treeline, that likely failed several days ago.