Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey · Nov 4, 2022 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Light snow around daybreak with calm winds at pass level. Abundant sunshine to start, then the cloud deck from the northwest transitioned overhead around 10 am giving way to light snow flurries. Moderate winds around treeline and light drifting observed onto leeward slopes.
Snowpack
We found around 14 to 16 inches of new snow from pass level to near treeline. On open slopes, the general consensus was drifting up to 20 inches. Recent snowfall came in right-side-up with a F to 4F+ hardness profile (top to bottom). In places where we found old, early-season snow it was either 4F- faceted grains (1-2 mm) or a 1-inch thick P hard crust with faceted grains below. We also observed a storm interface that periodically cracked below our skis on steeper slopes, around 4 inches below the surface, but does not seem to be a lingering issue. Compression Test and Extended Column Test failed with easy to moderate force at the new/ old interface. Failures were clean but did not "cash drawer" into the snowpit. Lots of evidence of drifting in the alpine with large wind swells and cornices beginning to form. The dense new snow made for efficient travel both up and down terrain. Ski penetration was around 8 inches but boot penetration was to the ground. The total height of the snowpack on northerly-facing slopes ranged from 2 to 2.5 feet.
Avalanche
None observed from my vantage on this tour.