Avalanche

Northern San Juan

Chris DicksonNorthern San Juan
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Photo d’observation 1Photo d’observation 2Photo d’observation 3Photo d’observation 4Photo d’observation 5Photo d’observation 6Photo d’observation 7

Weather

Temperatures started off cold in the morning, gradually warming to the mid to upper 30s by noon. Sunny slopes began to warm and moisten in the afternoon. Snow surfaces remained cold and dry in shaded areas. Winds were calm with occasional light gusts coming from the southwest.

Snowpack

Since November 30th, we've basically doubled the snowpack in this area, adding 2 inches of snow water equivalent. That said, we're still below average and shallow. The snowpack deepens with elevation, increasing from 40 centimeters to around a meter in deeper spots at upper elevations. Near and below treeline, in sheltered areas, the snowpack is mostly unconsolidated and faceting, lacking a slab. On more open, exposed slopes, the recent winds formed thin windskins, and above treeline, this thickened into a 10cm surface wind slab. In a pit dug at 11,800' on a northeast-facing slope, I found around 85 centimeters of snow, with a layer per storm. Notably, there was a well-preserved layer of buried surface hoar buried about 45 centimeters down, which likely formed during the Thanksgiving week dryspell. It did not propagate in tests.

Avalanche

Large natural avalanche on Pilot Knob, northeast slope above treeline. Otherwise, limited cycle of small Wind Slab avalanches below ridgelines, mostly on leeward slopes.