Field Report
Northern San Juan - CO
Report Information
A handful of natural avalanches in the southern portion of the 550 corridor- Molas and Coal Bank Passes. Mostly storm slab releases which appear to have failed within the middle to upper portion of the recent storm snow. Certainly a possibility that some failed on the old interface (persistent weak layer FC/FCsf) and partailly re-loaded at some point during the ~36 hour storm. Lot's of cracking was evident along steep banks above the road and it looked like a few "pocket" persistent slabs we're induced by plow operators. Very notable rumbling collapses were observed while booting in the flats to the study plots.
Hand measured storm totals : Molas Pass 16.5"/2.5" SWE Coal Bank Pass 17.5"/ 2.7"
Scouting for natural's
Southern end of 550- Molas/Coal Bank. Out and back to study plots and windshield ob's
Avalanches
Natural activity observed in the lower Champion hwy path, West Lime hwy path, Gobbler's Knob- Lime Creek and Quartzite Bowl- Snowdon shoulder.
|
i
Expand to see more details
|
Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11/27/2024
|
>TL | NW | SS | N | R2 | D2 | Persistent Slab |
|
||
|
Date and Time
11/27/2024 -
1:00am
(estimated)
Location
37.751
-107.673
Area Description
Quartzite Bowl- Molas |
||||||||||
|
11/27/2024
|
<TL | E | SS | N | R1 | D1.5 | Storm Slab |
|
||
|
Date and Time
11/27/2024 -
6:00am
(estimated)
Location
37.751
-107.673
Terminus
MP
Road Status
Open
Area Description
West Lime-hwy path |
||||||||||
|
11/27/2024
|
<TL | NE | SS | N | R2 | D1.5 | Storm Slab |
|
||
|
Date and Time
11/27/2024 -
3:03am
(known)
Location
37.751
-107.673
Sliding Surface
S
Terminus
BP
Road Status
Open
Centerline Depth
1 ft
Centerline Width
15 ft
Area Description
Lower Champions- hwy path |
||||||||||
|
11/27/2024
|
<TL | W | SS | N | R1 | D1.5 | Storm Slab |
|
||
|
Date and Time
11/27/2024 -
4:11am
(estimated)
Location
37.751
-107.673
Area Description
Gobblers Knob |
||||||||||
Multiple Avalanches
Snowpack
Post-storm height of snow at Molas 32" Coal Bank 26"
Weather
Mostly Clear. Light NW wind at pass level. 17F. Moderate transport ATL in the Needles/Twilights