Northern San Juan
SnowpackJeremy Yanko · Mar 17, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Clearing with lingering flurries by 10:30am giving way to mostly clear skies and a steady northeast wind into early afternoon.
Snowpack
Found 5cm HN24 overnight at ~ 10,000k with upwards to 15cm around 11,500ft in the Trout Lake zone. On east BTL height of snow probes variably from 80-100cm deep. A 1F 3cm partially re-frozen crust formed over the last couple days lies above moist rounds below. The upper crust is more supportable to skis as you gain elevation on East but not supportable to boot pen by any means, especially north of east. You can still buy a collapse in the flats and on short steep slopes previously unaffected by human travel. Around 10,500ft and up, below treeline the snowpack picks up in depth, measuring HS of 170cm on a NE slope. Nice change in boot pen at this elevation of 35cm. The PWL (2/21 layer of FCsf- slow to heal 3-4mm grains) of primary concern sits 65cm down from the surface at this location. Instability test scores gave way to a CT12 RP and an ECTP24. Just above treeline at ~11,500ft. HS of 180cm on an east-facing slope (E/NE). The main weak layer of concern is concealed by a 70cm 4F over 1F slab built since Feb 21st. Test scores gave up an ECTX and hard CT30 and CT23 RP failures. The persistent weak layer is slow to heal but some rounding of the Fist facet cavity continues but not " out of the woods" with our main snowpack problem.