Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Ann Mellick Jeff Davis · Dec 27, 2018 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cold and calm. Mostly sunny with high cirrus clouds this AM, leading to thickening cloud deck proceeding incoming storm by afternoon.

Snowpack

The snowpack has deepened and become more complex over the past two weeks. Several rounds of new snowfall coupled with strong winds from both northerly and southerly directions have created a variety of layers. The most recent storm ended with very little wind, so new fluffy snow is disguising previously formed windslabs near and above treeline. The overall height of snow has grown to about 1 meter. Whumphing/collapsing has become more isolated and "quieter" (mumbles rather than rumbles). The weakest interface continues to be between snow the fell early season and from Thanksgiving on, though weaknesses lurk between recent storm layers as well.

Avalanche

Evidence of small avalanche cycle from post-Christmas storm became evident with good visibility today. Lots of long-running loose slides from steep terrain as well as a couple larger slabs in near and above treeline ares.