Northern San Juan
SnowpackMatt Steen · Jan 25, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
A mostly obscure sky all day. Very few breaks in the clouds provided limited visibility. Winds were light, humidity was high and temperatures were mild for alpine terrain in January.
Snowpack
The snowpack above treeline is variable. It consisted of shallow faceted snow measuring from less than a foot to 2.5 to 3 feet deep, or varying thin wind slabs which rest on varying thicknesses of weak faceted snow, or held deeper areas of persistent-soft slabs. The surface slabs were generally thin (2"-6") and were pencil hard. These proved to be the most sensitive in shallow, localized areas and in flat terrain. These collapses did not move or propagate, but failed in the surface slab up to 15 feet away. The deeper slabs were generally soft (4 finger) and were less cohesive. Near treeline the snowpack was faceted and cohesionless. Below treeline the snowpack transitioned to moist snow.