Northern San Juan
AvalancheNolan Averbuch · Jan 3, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
AM Weather: Moderate North Wind ATL/NTL, lots of snow transport, warm in sheltered spots BTL, Clear, PM Weather: Light West wind ATL, minimal snow transport, warm to hot on sunny BTL slopes, Few clouds, no precip
Snowpack
On Comodore uptrack SE facing, developing suncrust/NSF. NTL and ATL moderate North winds with periods of strong gusts. Many plumes coming off ridges (See photo of Red 3). Upper 60' of grandma couloir was thin with shallowly buried rocks. Lower half of couloir and apron contained soft well preserved snow. In the PM Spirit trees held hot pow and some areas of cold pow. In some areas sun crust/NSF developing. The surface will freeze overnight and become hard and crusty.
Avalanche
Many dry loose (dry moist?) avalanches on solar aspects releasing from rock bands. Mostly ATL I triggered a dry loose, D1 slide that released from under my skis on a ~45 degree, North Facing slope. SWAG ob: 20200103, 1215, Commodore Mid, D1, R2, AS, L, N, 11,400', 45 degrees,