Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Susan Hale · Nov 28, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Sunny and very warm for this time of year. Temperatures have exceeded the 50 deg mark by mid-day in some areas. Winds have been a moderate WSW 15-20. Lighter breeze at pass level. Noted only isolated wind transport (W to E) at very high elevations.

Snowpack

Lots of roller-ball roughing of surfaces on all sunny aspects - seemed more pronounced on E aspects (more than W) below treeline. Also noted sun-cupping at these locations. Our below-treeline paths have lost visible volume since the last storm and most now have moist rough surfaces with rocks surfacing again. Did not see evidence of larger sluff activity from any paths - likely due to lower sun angle at this time of year. Protected north aspects at these elevations remain dry and faceted.

Avalanche

Did not see evidence of slab avalanches along the stretch I drove.