Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Chris Marshall · Jan 21, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

12K, CLR, E Light NW winds No blowing snow

Snowpack

Multiple generations of hard slabs (P to K) of varying thickness resting on well developed chained facets and depth hoar (up to 4mm).

Avalanche

E-SE Upper Prospect Gulch 12,150' HS-AMu-R2-D2-O est 300' x 100' x 30-70cm on 1/20 or 1/19??? Failed on 2mm FC sandwiched between hard slabs. Slabs tapered quite a bit. Dug on flank and also into bed surface to asses structure. Slide was constrained by terrain and remained in gliding motion. The majority of the slab was fractured, but still intact at the bottom of the path. Investigation revealed two shear planes and slab depth ~120cm.