Northern San Juan
SnowpackColin Mitchell · Nov 17, 2018 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Breezy conditions made for a cool day in the alpine, although the sun was strong and temperatures warm below treeline.
Snowpack
Faceting has weakened the snowpack significantly. In near treeline areas sheltered from the wind, the snowpack is mostly loose, 1-2mm facets. The snow surface varies across the terrain, from 1-2" P hard wind crusts, to soft near-surface facets. Ski penetration varied, and some areas still had a supportable mid-pack layer. Wind and sun have hardened the snow surface around the compass in the alpine. Although coverage looks good from a distance, snow depth is highly variable and overall low, ~12" on average. East aspects still have a pronounced mid-pack crust (see profile). Snowpack tests in both elevation bands revealed no significant results, and did not produce propagating cracks. No collapsing or whumpfing observed.