Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 24, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Mostly sunny with some high-level cloud, calm, temperature around freezing point at 9,000'
Snowpack
Starting zone was above us and out of sight, but from the map it appears to have been a N/NW-facing bowl at about 10,500-11,000'
Avalanche
On Jan 23 two of us were climbing "The Ribbon", a popular ice-climb near Ouray, CO. We reached the top around 4 pm, and we were on a small ledge preparing to rappel down the route when the slopes above us released spontaneously. The starting zone was out of sight, but judging from the map it appears to have been hundreds of feet higher up. The avalanche funneled through a notch beside us at the top of the climb. Fortunately we were just out of the main avalanche path, and tied to a sturdy pair of rappel anchors. However, enough snow came down on us to knock one of us off his feet, leaving him dangling from the anchors. Once the avalanche had passed we were able to rappel down uninjured. The avalanche ran about 1,000' below the base of the climb.