Southern San Juan
AvalancheChris Bilbrey · Nov 26, 2022 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Sunny and breezy westerly wind. High clouds started streaming overhead around 3 pm.
Snowpack
The snowpack has gotten punched in the face by battering winds and a lack of snowfall over the last three weeks. Steady northerly winds recently have reduced the loose snow sluffing threat except in wind-sheltered terrain. Snow depths deep enough to support over-the-snow recreation are moving up in elevation and becoming more confined to northerly-facing slopes. Where the snowpack remains, it is weak overall. We found a thin windshield or crust on the surface on most upper-elevation slopes, and in open areas below treeline. These thin, harder layers are capping a thicker layer of weak, faceted crystals. While traveling over harder surface snow, we only observed cracking below our skis, and no audible collapses. While not a problem today lacking a cohesive slab, this trap door layering could spell trouble once a big new snow load is stacked above.
Avalanche
None observed