Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey · Apr 23, 2020 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Sunny, cold, and windy till around 10:30 am. Scattered clouds moved in from the northwest and cooling winds kept snow surfaces from getting too wet at higher elevations.
Snowpack
Last night's freeze was superficial below treeline but snow surfaces got more firm with elevation gain. A thick crust exists on many near and above treeline slopes with moist snow below. Despite moderate northwest winds and clouds, east and south-facing terrain warmed and softened but didn't become very wet. We found dry snow on all aspects above 12,000 feet with light drifting forming thin, soft drifts on leeward slopes and gullies. Plenty of loose-wet sluffing of recent snowfall observed on most aspects including north-facing terrain. Southerly-facing slopes from 10,000 to about 10,500 have become unconsolidated, rotten, and thin.