Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey · Dec 7, 2020 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Warm, beautiful day in the mountains.
Snowpack
Northerly-facing slopes below treeline have faceted top to bottom but are still supportable to skis. On those same aspects near treeline, a 1F mid-pack sits below 8 to 10 inches of weak, sugary facets. Steep, rocky areas and heavily vegetated slopes have weakened throughout and boot penetration was to the ground is spots. We're snow structure was the weakest, we easily initiated small sluffs on steeper slopes. None traveled far or gained enough mass to be a concern. Alpine slopes are faceting too with 10 to 20 cm's of 4F facets above a harder layer. Traveling on slopes around 35 degrees or steeper did not produce loose dry sluffs or other signs of unstable snow. Deepest drifting in the alpine was around a meter deep, but this area is known for strong winds and many slopes were stripped to bare rock/ ground. Areas harboring firm, wind-drifted snow are narrowing and those slabs are also thinning and faceting below.
Avalanche
None Observed