Northern San Juan
SnowpackAnn Mellick · Feb 22, 2012 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Mild, partly to mostly cloudy and windy. Ridgetop winds WNW 20-30 mph, with stronger gusts. High clouds today made it feel quite warm and greenhouse-like, especially at lower elevations. Very different conditions depending on elevation, mostly due to intense wind up high.
Snowpack
It is still winter, but hints of the transition to spring are in the air. Yesterday's and today's mild temperatures were quickly transforming the surface snow. Lots of melting, roller balls and some small loose sluffs dredging into old DH on lower elevation slopes. Surface snow was becoming moist on most slopes near and below treeline. Strong and steady WNW winds were loading lee easterly slopes near and above treeline. Firm and reactive cornices- one rather large (10' x 4') chunk snapped off on approach and triggered a small slab below. Snow was moist, thus reluctant to move below tl, though recent winds have already made the snow slabby there too. Snow structure remains the same- slab on top of weak basal snow...