Northern San Juan
AvalancheMike Barney Chris Bilbrey · Mar 30, 2021 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Sunny, brisk day in the mountains. Moderate north winds were blowing snow off a few high ridgetops and peaks. Temperatures below treeline warmed enough to soften snow surfaces on east to south aspects.
Snowpack
An overall thinner snowpack in this area than other areas in the Northern San Juan Mountain with around 170cm snowpack on north aspects near treeline. Most surfaces near and above treeline are either sun or wind crust but only small and shallow wind slabs were observed near the summit of Elliot Mountain. Wind slabs were smooth and just under ridges and in cross-loaded areas. Upper elevation southerly aspects had around 100cm of snow with a 5cm pencil hard melt freeze crust and 10cm of cold dry snow beneath.
Avalanche
Old small Loose snow avalanches from 3/27 on southerlies and one old small wind slab.