Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 5, 2017 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Cloudy skies with little new snow, moderate winds at times with strong gusts even well below treeline. Significant wind loading along ridges near below-above treeline, but at times even well below treeline. The air felt humid with cool temps, though temps started dropping by around mid afternoon, along with increasing snowfall. Prolonged graupel fell through much of the morning and early afternoon, accumulating to a widespread 1-2".
Snowpack
Traveled E-S aspects between 8800-11,700ft. SE-S slopes shows breakable surface crust and thin snow cover. E slopes had a bit deeper snow cover an colder snow with no surface crusts. Evidence of significant wind loading even below treeline, but most pronounced around/above treeline on NW-NE-SE. The leeward snow was generally 1+ foot deep, powdery but felt heavy. Underneath there are 1 or more crusts, in-between 4F to F snow (mostly small facets and df). That sits on top of basal gulag of depth hoar facets, ice clusters and some rounds. Several hand tests revealed easy fracturing mainly at the depth of the crusts, several shooting cracks and whumpfs suggest the potential for propagation (these all occurred on slopes <30dgr with wind loading). The graupel from today could lead to s short lived storm snow instability, Lots of spin drifting observed on very steep cliffy mountain sides.
Avalanche
n/o but suspecting touchy/very touchy conditions around/above treeline on NW-NE-SE for Friday and Saturday.