Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Mark Gober · Jan 19, 2011 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Squally with periods of S2 snow. Sun was visible through clouds though. Winds were moderate to strong out of the NW

Snowpack

Lots of grauple in the newest 4-5" of snow. Below TL, no slab present, but the new snow was dense with the grauple factor and could be a good slab if it keeps snowing. No cracking, collapsing below TL on north aspect. On SE aspect, good wind loading was taking place above TL. This was creating good, reactive cornices at the ridgeline, but the slabiness diminished rapidly below TL. There was a mix of thin wind slabs and suncrusts beneath the new snow that were good sliding surfaces, but with not enough weight on them to be an issue.