Northern San Juan
SnowpackBill Nalli · Jan 11, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Temps in the low teens. Strong north wind in morning backed to the southwest by early afternoon and decreased to mid-teens. Light intermittent snow flurries accumulated about 1" new snow.
Snowpack
Variable snow surfaces ranging from stubborn hollow hard slabs, to wind scoured, to soft deteriorating facets below treeline and in wind-sheltered areas, to new one to two foot deep wind slabs below ridges and cross-loaded terrain features. Shifting winds again today from north to southwest drifted snow onto northeast, east and southeast aspects above treeline. I found a few sensitive wind drifts that would crack and move downhill on east aspects at 12,200 feet. The snowpack below treeline on the north side of the compass continues to get weaker and in some sheltered locations consists completely of facets and depth hoar. Ski cuts produced a couple small facet sluffs on 40 degree test slopes.