Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Josh Jespersen · Jan 3, 2023 · Northern San Juan

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Observation photo 1

Weather

Minnehaha ridge ATL with OVC skies and S1 precip rate accompanied by L winds.

Snowpack

ATL southerly aspects range from 60 to 100 cms with a strengthening 1F slab resting on a thing but reactive layer of persistent grains. North aspects ATL had similar structure with HS ranging from 100 to 130cms and resting on top of well developed DH up to 6mm.

Avalanche

Most notably was a large avalanche on a S facing ATL slope above Minnehaha Creek that was 300m wide and ran 200m at it's greatest extent. This avalanche ran on persistent grains near the ground. Also observed was a very wide avalanche of similar nature and size on the S facing slopes of Noth Fork Cement Creek BTL below the Gold King Mine. This larger avalanche ran on persistent grains as well.