Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Josh Coffin · Jan 18, 2016 · Northern San Juan

View on map

Weather

Few clouds all day. Winds were Light/NW with moderate gusts approaching Ntl elevations. Blowing snow was light but Previous loading was observed on NE-S-W N/Atl. Temps hovered around 15F all day.

Snowpack

Measured HST Btl on N'ly aspects averaged to 42cm with an average HS of 140cm. Storm snow on N'ly aspects Btl resting on NSF(.05mm). Shovel Tilt tests produced easy SP results at the Interface indicating poor bonding between the new and old. The storm snow in sheltered areas Btl and N'ly had very little consolidation but sat upside down with the upper 15cm producing cracking underfoot isolated to around ski's. ECTN 3 SP down 15cm and ECTN 13 down 42cm. In more open areas Btl, Nly aspects, the storm snow was more consolidated. In these areas shooting cracks from ski's were observed of up to 1M but still isolated to the upper 15cm of snowpack. NE-S-W aspects N/Atl looked plump and heavily loaded.

Avalanche

Every southerly path on Lookout Mtn ran naturally on what looked to be the 16th with the two most westerly paths crossing Ophir Pass rd. R2D2.5. Debris was covered by 20cm of new snow. Crowns were still visible but looked to be buffing out with the new snow and wind. Also observed a crown in Cement Fill. Started midway down the starting zone and could not see the extent of runout.