Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Susan Hale · Mar 10, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Winds (5-10 variable) were almost calm in the Basin but breezy at ridge-crest (around 13,000'). Temps relatively warm in Basin, very warm at Pass level (11,000). At 12,500+ was quite cool with breeze. On north aspects chilly.

Snowpack

We did a lot of probing and moving... On N-E-SE aspects snowpack is as "fat" as we've seen in several years. Good coverage. Sunny aspects ENE - E - SE very moist surfaces down 5-20 cm depending on aspect, elevation and slope angle. Skied like hot pow as long as they had sun on them. Steep, sunny terrain still seeing fresh loose sluffs and rollers as day progressed. Colder aspects were also variable with slight aspect changes (we are starting to see crusts on flats with higher sun). Above treeline most northerly's remained cold winter snow esp above TL where cool winds are also helping to keep surfaces cool.

Avalanche

Saw new wet-loose activity on some southerly aspects (mostly near and below TL). Otherwise, no significant new avalanche activity observed today.