Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Josh Hirshberg · Mar 8, 2017 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Clear skies. Calm on most slopes w/ light to moderate gusts at 13,000ft. Intense solar radiation.

Snowpack

Evidence of major SW wind event March 5-6. Extensive scouring and wind effects at upper elevations and many open areas well below treeline. Found areas of major tree blow-down at low elevation. Sun formed crusts on E-S-W near and below treeline.

Avalanche

Extensive shallow avalanche cycle on leeward slopes at upper elevations due to 3/5-6 wind event. All these avalanches quickly filled in from 3/6 snow and subsequent wind-loading.