Southern San Juan
SnowpackAnonymous · Feb 14, 2011 · Southern San Juan
Snowpack
On North
through West aspects I was getting widespread, consistent collapsing
in and near the concavity of the backslope of the roadcut. These
radiated 20'-30' feet in all directions and were very loud. I was able
to reproduce these consistently over a 1 mile length of the road.
There was no cracking or avalanching associated with these, but there
was obvious deformation of the snow.
I was also getting significant collapsing in meadows near the road, but they were very muffled and mostly only noticeable due to physical feeling and visible deformation in the surface snow.
On the way down I dug a pit near the roadcut on a due North aspect at 9,800' and got CT2Q1 Sudden Collapse X 2 .. I was amazed by the CT2.. I then got ECTP2 .. full block .. The failure layer was 3cm thick surface hoar 45cm down @ the interface between recent storm snow and the 1/31-2/1 storm. The slab above the failure was was fist to 4 finger from top down, and air temp was about 40 degrees.
I was also getting significant collapsing in meadows near the road, but they were very muffled and mostly only noticeable due to physical feeling and visible deformation in the surface snow.
On the way down I dug a pit near the roadcut on a due North aspect at 9,800' and got CT2Q1 Sudden Collapse X 2 .. I was amazed by the CT2.. I then got ECTP2 .. full block .. The failure layer was 3cm thick surface hoar 45cm down @ the interface between recent storm snow and the 1/31-2/1 storm. The slab above the failure was was fist to 4 finger from top down, and air temp was about 40 degrees.