Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick Susan Hale · Apr 16, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Cool and showery, but with little accumulation. Rime on north side of trees.
Snowpack
New snow averaged 12"-16" in most places. The storm came in warm and cooled, so storm snow is "right-side-up". Hand pits showed good bonding of the new snow to the old snow surface on most aspects, though it was easy to trigger surface sluffs (D1) in very steep terrain. Some very localized cracking was noted, though little slab nor propagation. No real weak layers noted. Although the temperatures have remained cold (in the low 20's FËš) the snow felt and acted moist, dense and very spring-like. The old snowpack beneath the new snow was well frozen and isothermal.
Avalanche
We saw a couple loose surface sluffs that initiated in steep and rocky north and easterly terrain below tl. All D1 (or less!). Thick clouds and flat light obscured views into the alpine.