Northern San Juan
SnowpackAngela Hawse · Nov 30, 2014 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Light SW wind, mostly cloudy with temps reaching 35º by midday.
Snowpack
Coverage ranged from 20 to 100cm with variable wind affected surface. Recent high winds appear to have kept the snow surface cool despite warm temps. Observed MF crusts at lower elevations only on exposed aspects. We found reactive isolated surface slabs at and above TL, specific to NW and N aspects. These were primarily on lee cross loaded terrain. The wind packed surface slabs ranged from 5-30 cm. Skinning up and skiing down we observed considerable collapsing and propagating cracks to the ground on these isolated features up to 50m wide. There was not enough cohesion in the mid-layers to move, however slope angles above 35º would be of concern. Basal facets were also isolated to NW and N aspects at and above TL from our observations. See pit. Dry snow above 11,000'. Moist and dense below with supportable base and good skiing on shady aspects.