Abajos

New snow and strong winds have increased the likelihood for human triggered avalanches, primarily on steep north through easterly aspects that have recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Avalanches triggered in the recent snow have the potential to step down into buried weak layers of sugary faceted snow causing a deeper, and much more dangeorus avalanche. Avoiding slopes steeper than 30 degrees in these areas is the safest option.

Update March 14:

7 inches of new snow has fallen in lower North Creek with 5 inches at Camp Jackson. The new snow has been accompanied by strong southwest winds increasingly the likelihood for human triggered avalanches involving wind drifted snow on leeward slopes. The underlying snowpack structure is very poor in these areas and deeper, human triggered avalanches failing on weak layers of loose, sugary, faceted snow are possible. Southelry aspects have very thin snowcover and human triggered avalanches in these areas are unlikely.

Update March 9:

The Abajo mountains still suffer from thin snowcover, but what snow exists is poor in structure meaning that a dense slab exists over weak, sugary, faceted snow. See this observation from March 8. This stucture exists on northerly aspects that have held snow all season, and human triggered avalanches are possible in these areas. Sunny aspects have very thin snowcover and grass is still poking out in most areas.

Photo illustrates poor snowpack structure with strong snow over top of weak, sugary, faceted snow. Photo courtesy of Carrie, Cory, and Matt.

Photo of an Extended Column Test illustrates the snowpack's propensity for human triggered avalanches. Score was ECTP22.

Use these links for current weather conditions.

NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.