Northern San Juan
Avalancheskippie zeller · Jan 10, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
clear, calm, 45F most of day. this wx following 2 days of snow with HN 50cm. little to no evidence of storm wind effect.
Snowpack
E. approach to Expectation Mtn., 11,500', ENE aspect, 30 degree slope. no settling or cracking. HS 155cm. top down- 50cm new resting on 80cm 4F to 1F (thanksgiving and Xmas storms) resting on 15cm P-K either a MF or very well sintered DH resting on 10cm fist hard 4-6mm DH. CT 26x2, ECT 28 both at 130cm down.
Avalanche
N thru E aspects near and above TL Expectation Mtn. recent storm snow was enough water to tip the balance with 3 separate avalanches occurring in three separate slopes very near the end of the most recent storm cycle. Avy 1; natural R2D3 ran 12,000' to 11,000', appeared step down to ground. 1500' feet of this slope pulled out on N aspect below rock outcrops and over 30m to prior avy path. . Avy 2; same but R2D2. Avy 3; R2D2 ATL and into, 1m crown, ran 200m