Northern San Juan
AvalancheChris Dickson · Mar 15, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Started cold with variable winds transporting snow along the ridgetops. Wind shifted to the N and then the E, and we observed a point release loose dry release in the big cliffs near The Wire. Throughout day though, temps soared as the sun moistened the snow surface on anything with a sunny tilt to it.
Snowpack
200cms+ found in pits at 11,400' near treeline on SW and NW aspects. Structure at this location consisted of a 1F hard slab in the midpack sitting above 90cms of well developed facets. ECTs yielded no propagating results.
Avalanche
Observed a R2-D1.5 slide that was triggered by a high-marking snowmobiler, on a NNE aspect at 11,800. In the crown you could see the dust layer buried around 2/21, so it likely failed on the 2/21 PWL. Crown depth ranged from 2-4 feet thick.