Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick · Dec 16, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Cold and partly cloudy.
Snowpack
Snow totals from the recent 3-day storm only added up to ~12'/1.2" h20 on RMP. The wind that came before the moisture arrived battered the alpine zone an created some hard slabs and stiff snow surfaces in exposed areas. The subsequent snowfall was mostly a slow load and came in "right-side-up" (warm to cold). No cracking, collapsing, nor new slab avalanches observed today along the 550 corridor from Ouray to Silverton. A snowpit dug on a west aspect below treeline revealed a 1 meter deep and fairly strong snowpack with a thin layer of basal facets (3 cm). Long column test= ECTX. Another snowpit dug on an exposed SE aspect near treeline revealed an overall more complex and concerning snow structure: 1 meter deep with a reactive mid-pack weak layer (CT15 SP and ECTP30).
Avalanche
No new slab avalanches observed today along the 550 corridor from Ouray to Silverton. Lots of sluffs in the new snow from steep rocky terrain.