Northern San Juan
AvalancheMichael Ackerman · Jan 24, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Light snow and moderate winds giving way to calm and bluebird conditions after noon.
Snowpack
120 to 150 HS, 6-8 cm wind slab over the past week/weekend's fresh snow (F). Recent snow events sit upon a weak interface approx 50cm from surface with an additional 25 cm of (4F) decomposing mank below that. Very weak interface approx 80cm deep over lying facets and crusts to the ground. CTE (8) in surface wind slab, CTM (13) in recent fresh snow 14cm deep, clean and fast- also CTM (19) 25cm deep at interface between 1/17 and 1/19 storm events. Non-standardize shovel shear tests produced an easy and consistent pop of the entire slab at the very weak interface 80cm from the surface- basically the entire upper and mid pack was a cinch to move upon the deeply faceted bs in the lower pack. Definitely a PWA (Pack with Attitude)- solar gain and warmer temps helped upper pack gain cohesion throughout the afternoon and moderate angle slopes are skiing real nice.
Avalanche
Old Slabs observed ATL in Porphyry and old Pt Release(s) off geology north of lower Mineral Creek