Southern San Juan

Avalanche

Bill Nalli · Feb 9, 2020 · Southern San Juan

Weather

Clouds filled in quickly by early morning and intermittent light snow showers began, earlier than I expected, by 11am. Gusty southwest wind. Periodic light snowfall left a new trace on the surface.

Snowpack

Below treeline continues to show signs of very weak structure but I also found some below treeline areas in the trees where it is not completely garbage. Not totally consistent throughout the range. Near treeline seems the strongest on all except east and southeast. There we still find the crust facet layers exist and are active and not quite ready to go away yet. Above treeline has been severely wind damaged with exposed slopes stripped bare on all sides of the compass, sastrugi, hard wind board, and now in some places a shallow hard slab capping weaker snow. Hard slab was not reactive today but this layering is concerning as we move forward with more snow on the horizon. Layer is strong and can hold a bit more load before failing. Northwest and some north aspects near ridges that have been stripped thinner from the many wind events is now shallow and weak. These aspects have plenty of persistent weak layers but not much of a slab on top, yet. Paying attention to these zones as we get more snow is advised.

Avalanche

Observed one more SS on a southeast aspect of Bear Mountain at 11,600' that likely failed on Friday February 7.