Northern San Juan
AvalancheColin Mitchell · Feb 5, 2018 · Northern San Juan
Weather
High thin clouds with lots of sun coming through. Winds were light and variable.
Snowpack
Snow at the Coal Bank study plot was a melting melt-freeze crust topped with a couple inches of corn, with wet 1mm rounds below that. Molas was similar, but the snow under the crust was moist facets rounding. Overall, little snow left in the paths on this stretch of road. HS on the West Lime stake is still sitting at ~13" but average HS in the path is more like 6". Very little hazard remains from the snow that is on the ground. All aspects and elevations along the road have at least a thin crust in all but isolated, shady areas. Tonight's snow will fall on a relatively warm, rough snow surface which should help limit any loose activity. We do not currently have the structure for slab avalanches in these paths, and tonight's forecast snowfall won't be enough to change this.
Avalanche
One small loose wet, looks to have run over the weekend.