Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Emily Sherman · Jan 4, 2023 · Northern San Juan

Weather

In Ophir we woke up to overcast skies and light snow that fell throughout the late morning/early afternoon. Temperatures ranged between high teens/low twenties. Skies began to break and sun began to peak through the skies around 1:30pm. Ophir, CO - N/NE Aspect in Beaver Pond area, 10,500ft

Snowpack

Dug a pit on a N/NE facing slope located right at treeline at the edge of the Beaver pond area, elevation 10,500ft. Height of the snow was 115 centimeters high. We observed 30cms of F hard fresh snow on top of 55cms of 4F hard snow, altogether sitting on top of 30cms of F hard snow (the 11/29 interface). ECT N 23cms down on suspected 12/28 interface.

Avalanche

We observed two different avalanche paths above treeline, (~11,400ft) on the Northern facing terrain of Ophir Pass 'gut' heading towards Ophir Pass.