Northern San Juan
AvalancheJason Bushey · Feb 9, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Cloudy the majority of the day with sun breaking out later. Small spurts of wind and roughly mid 20s F
Snowpack
Still stable below treeline N facing with no signs of instability on skin tracks in protected areas. S to E facing below treeline was a different story. 10-15 collapses in 2,500' of a skin track and a few cracks on SE primarily slopes. Also some E facing slopes on ridgelines collapsed as well due to new snow load of 50cm on top of garbage. Never travelled above 35 degrees on slopes with more than 50' tree anchoring and had no avalanches. A few NW-N facing btl aspects produced natural avalanches in rocky outcroppings likely on 2/8.
Avalanche
One NW facing avalanche in snowslide gulch on NW at 10,200' at a rock outcropping that is considered D2 likely on 2/8. Skinning a similar aspect 200' below on wednesday 2/5 and the slope was faceted full pack 60cm HS typically. Also N facing at 10,200' on a steep rock outcropping had a failure on a pillow on the new storm snow 24" deep and only 15' wide x 20' down, D1 and inconsequential due to terrain choice. Steep below treeline Northerly terrain around rocks though is showing multiple signs of instability on aspects that were previously very thin and faceted.