Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Ann Mellick · Feb 8, 2021 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Seasonably cool with variable cloudiness. Breezy, even well below treeline.

Snowpack

Today is the first day I have been out all season without any cracking/collapsing in uncompacted terrain. While the snowpack seems to be getting a bit less touchy below treeline, several weak layers persist in the upper snowpack. These layers proved reactive in today's snow profile and will take some time to heal. While the ECT score was on the higher end (23), compression tests failed much more easily (13) and revealed a reactive weak layer deeper in the snowpack. Relentless winds have affected the snow surface at all elevations, but particularly near and above treeline. Snow surfaces there are firm with surface slabs of varying thickness.