Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Dec 26, 2023 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Really windy. Cold. Few clouds.
Snowpack
Strong winds were destroying the snowpack at upper elevations. Plums of snow were observed blowing off peaks, and the snow surface in the McMillan area was littered with tiger striping. Drifts of snow were up to 24 inches deep and would produce shooting cracks with ski pressure. The higher I traveled in elevations, the stiffer the snow surface. A 10 cm 1-finger slab was observed in drifted areas and not across slopes. The snow remained cold and dry below treeline and in sheltered areas with little wind effect.
Avalanche
Small loose avalanches in south and east facing terrain triggered by wind-loading. (Coded in a 550 ob)