Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Andrew Breibart · Mar 21, 2022 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

3/18-20: mostly clear and light winds through Saturday. Moderate winds on Sunday morning. Sunday, snow was being transported and loading leeward slopes. Friday and Saturday, increasing incoming solar in the afternoons with warming temperatures. icicles along road were melting and presenting overhead hazards.

Snowpack

Southerly aspects-melt freeze crusts forming. Northerly aspects-generally 4-6 inches of loose snow on 8-24 inches of stiffer snow (1F qualitative estimate via pole probes). no cracking, no whumping; or collapsing on/off skin tracks. 3/20-Sunday-NW aspect above Camp Bird did form 2 inch wind slab (NTL) and was getting loaded. no cracking, whumping, or collapsing.

Avalanche

all kinds of avalanches observed on tour and this is very general. southerly-wet slabs and loose wet. mostly R1-D1 northerly-some storm slabs and dry loose. primarily R1 and D2. east-wet slabs-R1-D2 on 3/18: we bumped into groups leaving the area who reported a remote triggered avalanche above the road shown in one of the photos.