Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Ann Mellick · Jan 11, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cool with increasing clouds through the day. Moderate south westerly winds above treeline.

Snowpack

This area received 3"-5" new snow from our last storm and really did not change the hazard much, if any. Winds have stiffened the new snow above treeline where 2"-4" wind slabs sit above a pile of older winds slabs. A snowpit above treeline revealed 140 cm of mostly stout 1F hard snow, with two thin layers of softer snow (4F). Despite hard over soft layering in the upper 50 cm of the snowpack, testing yielded an ECTX. The snowpackon a northwest aspect below treeline was non reactive, even in steep terrain.

Avalanche

Saw some old slides that probably ran around New Year's.