Northern San Juan
AvalancheAmy Pertuz · Jan 14, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Warm temperatures, clear skies, and light winds predominated today. Most of the day, temperatures were above freezing, even in the alpine.
Snowpack
The prior wind-effect in Corkscrew Gulch has made coverage in this basin much more variable than some nearby areas. Deep, drifted areas on E and NE slopes sit adjacent to stripped bare ground near and above tree line. The same goes for crossloaded westerly aspects. Areas with very thin isothermal snow or none at all were found on Southerly aspects which usually hold more coverage. This made avoiding thin areas at slab margins much harder in this basin. Temperatures affected W-S-E slopes into alpine elevations today, wetting surfaces, while Northerlies held cold snow up high and near-surface faceted snow below tree line. Recent diurnal swings have softened and faceted the surface of the recent holiday slab, and in some thin spots this is making it easier to impact lower weak layers.
Avalanche
No new avalanches. No cracks, collapses.