Southern San Juan

Avalanche

Chris Bilbrey · Jan 18, 2022 · Southern San Juan

View on map

Weather

warm, sunny day with light westerly wind. High, thin clouds overhead prevented southerly-facing slopes near and above treeline from softening.

Snowpack

Surface conditions vary widely across the compass and with elevation. Where snow depths are deeper than 2 feet, the snowpack on southerly-facing slopes below treeline remains fairly homogenous, but is slowly becoming rotten where depths are shallower. Those same slopes harbor a firm, 1 to 2 inch breakable crust which made for sporty up-hill travel this morning. The snow surface on northerlies below treeline has consolidated and stiffened from warm temperatures and abundant "tree bombs". Around 10,500 feet, we started finding soft recycled powder (NSFs) on the surface of west through north to east-facing slopes. The higher we climbed, the crust on east, southeast and south-facing slopes got thicker and stiffer. This may be from the combination of warm weather and strong winds pressing the snow onto open slopes near treeline and in the alpine. Facets are starting to form below crust, but the thickness and hardness of the crust may help them support a larger new snow load in the future. Alpine slopes are the most unappealing to ride as they are a mixture of fat, hard slab pillows adjacent to sastrugi areas adjacent to shallow areas scoured by strong winds. No cracking or collapsing on our travels. Slopes that harbor faceted snow near the ground below December snowfall appear in a state of dormancy till another major storm cycle test their strength.

Avalanche

No new activity observed.