Southern San Juan
AvalancheJason Bushey · Feb 23, 2020 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds moving in in the afternoon. No wind transport observed in alpine. A skiff of new accumulation throughout day.
Snowpack
About 6-10" of new snow across most aspects in the alpine which was cohesion-less and light. No firm wind slabs found in alpine on N or S aspects. Collapses on southerly ridges observed in shallow snow. No cracking or collapsing in deep snow on SE alpine up to 35 degrees while skinning and good bonding of new snow. N facing alpine had 6-10" of new snow, generally cohesionless and light, but at tops of ridgelines and high alpine (around 13k) were still suspect on bed surfaces that were previously firm and steeper than about 38 degrees. In these areas avoided slopes easily over 35 degrees (probably more like 38 was suspect) near north ridgelines that had a firm bed surface. No recent avalanches observed except small loose point releases from steep rocks.
Avalanche
A report of a D1.5 avalanche (maybe 2 due to nature of terrain) from a ski cut on the new storm snow on N facing alpine which originated on a firm bed surface on slope approximately 37-40 degrees. This party was in my group but skiing a separate location of myself at the time and did not witness or see first hand.