Northern San Juan
AvalanchePatrick Ormond · Feb 15, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Between 2/13-2/15, approx. 40cm HST, though winds made it difficult to get a more accurate number. Temps were fairly warm during the day, and snow densities were higher and included a lot of graupel. SW winds were generally light-mod, gusting strong, and were strong overnight-early morning 2/15, with a peak gust of 88! at Putney at 1am.
Snowpack
HST from 2/13-15 was hard to assess with the amount of wind and drifting, but seemed to be about 40cm. Snow started on 2/13 around 1400 and continued though the night, mostly S1. There was a break on 2/14 with snow starting around 1230, mostly S2, then S1 after 1900. Mod-Strong SW winds around midnight 2/15 into early morning triggered a widespread natural cycle on the RMP corridor. Storm snow was dense from warm temps and wind, but there was no cracking or collapsing noted during the last 3 days.
Avalanche
Widespread natural cycle from Mod-Strong SW winds overnight 2/14-15, and continuing through the day 2/15. Anvil Peak, north face Moneyshot-Ophir Bowl, HS,N,D3. US Basin Peak north face, HS,N,D2 x2. Backyard ATL start zones, north facing, HS,N,D2. McMillan Peak, north shoulder Georgia Gulch, HS,N,D1.5. Red 3 west face: Hollywood, Bollywood, 42 Long, Jerry's, HS,N,D2-D3. Red 3 Champion shoulder, HS,N,D3. Red 1 South face, HS,N,D2? (hard to see). Ledges (Eagle Ridge) N, D2, over the highway. Thelma Ridge (above hut), into Mineral Basin, D2. Spirit Gulch, NE, could only see debris looking from McMillan. BTL Mineral/Porphory zone, above the highway, AS, D2, solo skier. Slide with tracks going in, not coming out observed by another party from across the highway. Skier was OK, but scared and shaken up. Debris went into trees.