Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Anonymous · Jan 29, 2021 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Partly Cloudy. Around 25 degrees F with moderate winds out of the Southeast. Near Red Creek Mine at the Top of Red Mountain Pass. NE aspect at 11600ft.

Snowpack

About 120 cm deep near the slope that slid. Various layers of 4 finger on top of 55cm of depth hoar. Clear slab formation on top of weak layer as described in the avalanche report.

Avalanche

Skier triggered persistent slab avalanche that slid on an isolated 40 degree slope near tree-line. Broke to the ground and the entire isolated slope slid. Skier entered low on slide path and was able to exit without being caught. The crown broke well above the point where the skier entered the slide path. Previously partner ski cut the top without propagation. We probed the ground in the debris pile at 240cm at its deepest point (in the middle of the debris pile).