Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Dec 25, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Beautiful calm day. Ample sunshine and light winds.
Snowpack
The snowpack is thin and wind-battered on many slopes above-treeline. Recent winds stiffened the surface, stripped wind-ward slopes, and deposited snow near-treeline. On sunny slopes a crust was observed on the surface that developed during periods of sunshine and mild temperatures over the last few days. Below-treeline the snowpack has become less sensitive to the weight of a skier. Cracking and collapsing is still common but more predictable and less widespread. Digging on slopes near and below-treeline the presence of a persistent weak-layer is obvious, but the key factor to avalanche activity is the cohesiveness of the snow above. With even a modest load we can except to see an uptick in avalanche activity.
Avalanche
Widespread old avalanche activity observed. Avalanches were failing on the Near-surface facets.