Northern San Juan
SnowpackMark Gober · Mar 6, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
high clouds streaming in, warm temps and steady south wind.
Snowpack
We saw no additional avalanche activity from this perspective. HOWEVER, there are other observations filtering in that indicate a scary pattern/trend of isolated but larger events that signal being on-the-edge of change toward a real avalanche cycle – once the next decent storm/winds arrives. In retrospect, felt the combo of warmer temps leading up to the storm (creep/ stress) plus the added weight from Monday's snowfall and the right wind was the trigger for the isolated incidents cropping up. Where we were today surfaces were varying thicknesses of MF crusts on all but the most north or very protected aspects. Our descent was NW to WNW aspect through thick glades of trees. Hand pits and probing indicated snow depths that were interestingly variable with the slightest change in exposure or tree cover – from less than a 3' to well over 4'. This was also true of the surface crust layers. Midpack slab thickness was also variable with depth but generally strong and supportive. Our time-frame eliminated a proper pit, so we remained on low angle terrain for the trip down.