Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Ann Mellick · Mar 21, 2011 · Northern San Juan

Weather

VERY WINDY and grey, nasty out

Snowpack

Fierce winds were moving snow in high elevation northerly cirques. Not much snow to move around on other aspects, but the strength of the wind was liberating any available snow particle- flying gravel as well. Exposed northerly slopes have hard surface slabs from persistent battering winds. Not really reactive, but we did not venture much into the alpine due to wx conditions. Snow below treeline is pretty settled in- structure still in winter mode with all dry snow. Slabs resting on weaker snow below, but again, non-reactive. Sunnier slopes baked looking and in various stages of transformation towards spring snowpack. No new slab avalanches in quite a while now. Danger of wet slides remains at bay for now with cooling temps. Of note is a distinct dust layer on the snow surface that has been deposited by recent SW winds. Air currently quite hazy, so I expect more is being deposited now. Not a problem now, but bears watching with new snow on top of it- likely weak facet interface.