Southern San Juan
AvalancheMark Mueller · May 19, 2015 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Skies cleared rapidly early, but clouded up just as rapidly as the morning wore on. Temps were warm with light SW winds and periods of light snow (mostly graupel). 20-30cm new snow. Wolf Creek Summit Snotel has picked up 6.5" of accumulated precip in the last several weeks (well above the May average). New snow during the same period has settled to a depth of about 75cm around TL.
Snowpack
No signs of instability on Tuesday (N-NE-E-SE near and below TL). Tests can produce resistant failures, but skier triggering seems unlikely. I expect triggering more possible in steep terrain above TL terrain. Normal caution would seem to be sufficient.
Avalanche
Recent observed activity has been limited to numerous R2 size LW activity out of steep rocky terrain. Visibility has been quite good at times.