Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Jeremy Yanko · Jan 27, 2022 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Chilly humid breeze with mostly cloudy skies

Snowpack

Weakening feel overall by ball bearing near surface faceting conditions or by an increased lack of supportability whether by creek banks or traveling in below treeline terrain. Generally the December slab is diminishing to 4F-F hardness. 5cm of recent low density snow caps of a thin faceting (1f-) crust on east-facing slopes and ~20cm of FCsf on N/NE. Depths range from 70-110cm at this site and elevation band from 9,600-11,200ft. The prolonged period without decent snow events and the diurnally faceting regime is taking a toll on the entirety of the snowpack. It is fairly easy to trigger loose snow sluffs in the top 20-30cm on northerly slopes pushing 40 degrees. As well, you can post-hole to the ground without much effort.