Northern San Juan
SnowpackAmy Pertuz · Jan 24, 2023 · Northern San Juan
Weather
A moody gorge effect set up on the north side of Red Mountain Pass, bringing upsloping snow showers and light to moderate northerly winds. Three new inches of low-density stellar particles were not impacting the hazard with new loads, but this was easily rearranged above treeline into soft drifts on westerly and southerly terrain. Wind-drifting was not extending down into the near-treeine elevation band. More exposed northerly faces appeared pressed by the winds. Temperatures remained cool.
Snowpack
Three inches of low-density stellars provided another small refresh to go along with the small storms impacting this location in the last few days. Storm now was low-density, and easily drifted into shallow but reactive windslabs above treeline on westerly aspects. Westerly aspects near treeline had soft drifted snow from the northeasterly winds. Overall, recent storm snow is well bonded and right-side-up. A facet crust formed January 14th is now buried 65 cm below the surface, and produced clean shears in Compression tests. In the below-treeline and near-treeline northwest and west-facing slopes in this area, the snowpack ranges from about 150cm to 250cm deep. Digging down to the drought facet layer buried 175cm below the surface, the angular faceted grains at the bottom of the snowpack are showing signs of strengthening.