Northern San Juan
AvalancheM Ackerman · Jan 30, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Tues- bluebird, with decent temps and ample solar Wed- sunny AM> over PM moderate temps giving way to chilly in the aft. light flurries on and off throughout the day
Snowpack
Two quick shots of moisture this week- with Monday's storm dropping 8 to 10 of fresh BTL/NTL on both sides of the pass. E>S>W aspects- The light density goodness skied like a fluffy cloud on Tues and hot butter on Wed. Norths have preserved the cold smoke producing some of the best blower powder skiing all season
Avalanche
East RMP/Carbon- No avys, Carbon classics all got hit hard Tues AM and sluff management was minimal- Gave a wide berth to oh girl entrance- (true NW high 30s/low 40s entrance) Never seen such crazy windloading a cross this entrance with wind whales continuing down the fall line. they were a little too tender for my liking but should heal quick- interesting to see such wind affect BTL, tucked into a heavily treed start zone. West RMP/Commodore- An old pt release in the new storm snow up high in Commodore over ATL cliffs- some other loose dry D1s spilling off steep geology ATL on the Western wall of the divide (mineral, senator, com, spirit) SLUFF management on Wed north faces above 35+ was our focus- We were moving a lot more snow than Tues- snow which seemed heavier and easier to get going- although it still skied beautifully, sluff was getting out ahead of riders and gaining mass quickly.