1/30/2024 Field Report - Southern San Juan
Report Information
A snowboarder triggered a large avalanche as he drifted under a cliff band on a north-facing slope. The slab was less than 60 centimeters deep and punchy where he triggered the avalanche. The crown was roughly 1.5-2 meters deep at its deepest point, propagating about 100 meters across. He immediately deployed his airbag, riding on top of the debris to the toe of the slope. He was partially buried to his waist. and able to self-extricate while his partner rode the lower-angle terrain to him.
Observation entered after discussion with the party.
Del Norte peak south of South Fork
The group approached Del Norte Peak from the logging roads to the west. The first skier descended through the north-facing gully, drifting under the cliff band, triggering a D2 avalanche. He deployed his airbag immediately and rode the debris to the toe of the slope. His partners rode the lower-angle terrain down, finished the extrication and followed the logging road back to their vehicles.
Avalanche
North-facing, heavily shaded slope near treeline. He credited being able to stay on top of the slab and not buried deeper to deploying his airbag immediately
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Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type |
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01/30/2024
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1 | TL | N | SS | AS/u | R2 | D2 | ||
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Date and Time
01/30/2024 -
12:12pm
(known)
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Snowpack
No obvious signs of instability were seen on the approach. As the first skier descended he noted the slab was "punchy and breakable". A large, rolling collapse happened right as he was caught. The avalanche likely failed on buried facets from the December drought layer, stepping down into the basal depth hoar in several spots.
Weather
Clear skies, temperatures in the upper thirties and little to no wind