Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Temperatures were warm enough today to melt surface layers on slopes which face the sun. At 12600 feet on an east facing slope, temperatures measured at 10 and 20cm below the surface were 0C. Recent cold temperatures have kept the near surface layers frozen and supportable near and above treeline. These surface crusts are between 1 and 10 inches thick on most slopes except due north where the snowpack is drier and winter-like. With a drop in elevation nearing treeline, the curst was softer, thinner and less supportable. Moist snow and a structured snowpack lay below the crusts. Where recent dusty snow lay on old surface layers, you can easily trigger small sluffs on steep terrain near and below treeline. Temperatures by 3pm today kept the snowpack cool enough to support a skier.