Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick Jeff Davis · Mar 24, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Sunny with strong solar radiation, but persistent northerly winds kept things chilly near and above treeline.
Snowpack
Strong northwest wind on March 23rd spared few slopes near and above treeline. Stiff pockets of newly drifted snow were observed on easterly slopes and sastrugi on west and north facing slopes. The newly drifted snow would break under our feet, but did not seem primed for avalanching as it did not collapse with added weight. Northwest wind remind strong enough to drift snow today, but was less intense and confined to upper elevations. Wind helped keep the snow surface cold and only sunny slopes and protected below treeline slopes showed any sign of warming in the form of hot pow or sticky snow.
Avalanche
Wednesday's strong northwest winds triggered a few small avalanche on easterly slopes.