Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Jason Bushey · Mar 16, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Clear (~15% clouds), warm but no warming on snow surface above treeline on N aspects. No noticeable wind and no sign of snow transport during the day.

Snowpack

Below treeline on north facing, it's a tale of shadows vs sun. Switching in and out of shade on skin tracks quickly glops skins (get your glopstopper ready). Trail breaking below treeline was supportable, 15cm, with boot pen 30cm. Found 1mm near surface faceting as I gained treeline. Dug pit on N aspect above treeline, which was windloaded. HS was 160cm, with reaction 40cm from surface (CT12Q1) and ECT27PQ1. Slab that reacted was 1F on top of 4F with planar results on 1mm rounding facets. Chose to stick to terrain <35 degrees in the alpine. Cornices are getting larger and gaining strength, and saw roller balls in many below treeline N facing gully's.

Avalanche

Older avalanche on N facing alpine. Unknown when released, D1ish. No other avalanches noticed from the last 24 hours and quite a few tracks on N aspect alpine without reaction.