Northern San Juan
AvalanchePatrick Ormond · Feb 2, 2014 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Near Putney, Clear skies, until late afternoon brought high cirrus and building clouds to SW. Ridgetop winds S, light to moderate. Temps low to mid teens.
Snowpack
North facing trees, upper Prospect Gulch. NE aspect, 11,800' 36 degree slope. HS 210cm, HST 65cm. CTM SC down 66cm on NSF below 1cm crust. ECTP SC same layer on tap 22. Despite these results, we experienced no cracking or whumphing, and the snow was stable on a variety of aspects at TL and above. But it seems like there is just enough load hanging in the balance waiting for a trigger. We kept slope angles 35 degrees and below.
Avalanche
Could see: South facing above Chattanooga, looked like highway control. D2.5, ran 2000' to road. Small pocket on SW facing gulley, Red 1, 12,000' D2 East facing Commodore Bowl,12,000' D2. Adjacent to Grandaddy Chute Red 3 summit ridge above Prospect, south facing wet loose, D1. East facing cornice fall, D1. Both from direct solar today.