Northern San Juan
AvalancheSusan Hale · Mar 11, 2017 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Thin high clouds decreased thru the morning. Temps felt quite warm in the sun on a below treeline E aspect. Only an occasional breeze from the SW.
Snowpack
Snowpack south of town is visibly showing the first signs of retreating - especially on steeper sunny aspects seeing the strongest sun. South-facing steep cut-banks are revealing dirt/rock. Extensive red dust evident on surfaces at all elevations - mainly near and south of Molas Pass. Areas where the snowpack is still deep are W. Lime and the Jenny Parker Groups, however the snow here is becoming spring-like with generally moist snow top to bottom. Finding a consistent weakness about 30 cm down in both these areas. See details below.
Avalanche
Loose wet activity has picked up at Mother Cline with at least one D1-D1.5 that affected the inside lane. This activity was anticipated with the remaining snow volume there.. Noticed larger slab on a ridge near Engineer Mtn. Too distant to determine timing.. Suspect this E aspect was triggered by the huge wind event of the 5th.