Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey · Dec 28, 2020 · Southern San Juan
Weather
We found 10 to 12 inches of lower-density snow (top to bottom, F to 4F-) above 11,000 feet. Isolated drifts along exposed ridge tops were 16 inches deep. We observed periods of heavy snowfall (S2+) during the late morning and early afternoon along with moderate southwest winds. We only climbed to around 11,300 feet but winds sounded stronger near treeline.
Snowpack
We found small, reactive storm slabs on north through east to southeast-facing slopes below treeline. These were easier to trigger on slopes near 35 degrees and only cracking with en echelon cracks observed on lower angled slopes. In steeper areas with a faceted crust below, small soft slabs ran quicker and traveled farther. Extended Column Test only produced propagating failures at the 12/11 interface with non-propagating results at the N/O interface. Compression Test failures at the N/O interface were progressive compression while sudden planar at the 12/11 interface. In the lower portion of below treeline, loose snow sluffs were easy to initiate on slopes near 35 degrees and entrained the weak faceted snowpack while moving down slope.