Southern San Juan
SnowpackAnonymous · May 28, 2011 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Warm and calm <TL with Moderate, gusting SW winds above TL; Sky was clear in the morning, but clouds began to gather by noon
Snowpack
South facing aspects below treeline were a mix of rotted snow to 2 inches of corn snow poorly bonded to a consolidated ice slab below. Drainages were running fat and S. facing aspects showed evidence of extensive natural wet slides (1-2 weeks old) to the dust layer, causing my party to believe that the snowpack was draining; also, we noted no 'soggy' layers within the mid-pack. North facing aspects were a different story. These aspects had not yet shed the new snow resting atop of the dust layer. Northern aspects held significant latent energy indicated by collapsing and 200 foot shooting cracks on low angle terrain and a 200' wide, 500 foot long wet slab triggered by a roller ball.