Northern San Juan
SnowpackJim Donovan · Dec 12, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Bullet blue skies, calm conditions.
Snowpack
Observed lots of wind effected snow on the road. No skin track set on road. Only South aspect was showing warming. Dug a "test plus" pit at TL.. A layer of Surface Hoar was very apparent mid pack. (HS 135cm, and Surface Hoar at 91cm in our location). Traveled into the alpine but highly wind impacted and wind slabs were present. Skied above pit location and got a localized wumph with small shooting cracks. After pit skied 30 degree slopes and observed localized cracking. Snowpack is still shallow so deadfall and tree wells are a hazard. The snow is maintaining a good condition on all aspects except South. We skied an East aspect. The Surface Hoar was present in the area we ski toured confirmed by several hand shear pits dug on our descent.