Northern San Juan
SnowpackMatt Steen · Apr 24, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Mostly clear with high thin cloud cover. Warm with a cool breeze.
Snowpack
Below treeline slopes are melting fast under the recent warm weather. We only traveled on below treeline, east and northeast facing terrain. Recent snowfall measures less than 2 inches and covers 50 to 75% of the old and dusty snow surface. This very thin surface layer would collapse in localized areas on the dusty old surface layer. Only if a significant load was introduced to this weakness would it become an avalanche issue. The morning sun quickly moistened east facing slopes. Shadier northeasterly facing terrain held a colder and winter-like snow surface.