Northern San Juan
AvalancheZach Guy · Apr 9, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Scattered clouds. Winds increased to moderate, gusting to strong at ridgetop. A few brief pulses of RV and S-1. Warm temps.
Snowpack
Below 11,000 feet on due north aspects, there was little to no refreeze of an unconsolidated wet snowpack. Thigh-deep boot pen and occasional knee deep ski pen. The top 8-12" was easily sluffing under foot, occasionally gouging to the ground another ~15" through wet facets in places where there wasn't a crust separating these layers. Got one skier triggered shooting crack, ~8 ft long, on wet facets about a foot deep. Above ~11,000 feet, 1"-3" of dry/moist/wet new snow over a supportive and frozen crust. Drifts up to 8" deep near ridgeline and small rollerballs on NW aspects. Some due north pitches above 12,000 ft were entirely dry throughout the snowpack.
Avalanche
A couple of fresh D1 wet loose on NE aspects below treeline.