Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Apr 26, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
A mix of sun and clouds during the morning hours, but by noon skies were overcast. Temperatures increased quickly at lower elevations, but winds kept it brisk on ridgelines.
Snowpack
The surface of the snowpack was frozen in the morning hours and the crust ranged from 10-20 cms. In the alpine the snowpack is still dry on north facing slopes. Small pockets of wind slab only a few cm's thick observed near ridgeline and in the middle of a gully were it appeared north winds had pressed and stiffened the surface snow. These pockets of slab were not reactive. At lower elevations and on sunny alpine slopes recent warm temperatures and ample sunshine continues to melt the snow. A sheen observed on the snow surface from the most recent melt-freeze cylce.
Avalanche
A few old small Loose slide observed out of steep rocky terrrain.