Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Anonymous · Apr 9, 2020 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Scattered skycover, light winds from the southeast, and mlld warming.

Snowpack

Skiers observed a freeze from below treeline to above treeline of 6 inches. Beneath freeze was up to 18 inches of wet snow to the ground.

Avalanche

The slope collapsed 20 feet above skier 1 and down to skier 2 who was 10 feet below skier 1. The wet slab failed 5 feet below skier 2. The slab was 12 inches deep, but the avalanche gouged to the ground. The avalanche ran from approximately 12,200 feet to 10,600 feet (1,600 vertical feet) and was 400-500 feet wide.