Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey · Apr 6, 2021 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Cool temperatures, steady southwest winds and fierce gusts above 11,500 feet. A few snow plumes off isolated peaks and ridges that were swirly at times. A thin wind-skin formed on northerly-facing slopes in the alpine.
Snowpack
The snowpack below treeline remains a wet, rotten mess without a solid nighttime freeze and colder temperatures. Northerly-facing slopes below treeline are more consolidated as a whole than slopes facing east through south to west, but not supportive to boot penetration. A thin frozen "egg-shell" formed on the snow surface last night with cooler temperatures and clear skies. This layer was thicker on slopes with an open view of the sky and at upper elevations. Today's winds offered a cooling effect and many snow surfaces remained firm or only slightly softened. Loose Wet activity was isolated to wind-sheltered areas and small. A thin wind-drifted layer formed on the surface on northwest through northeast slopes in the alpine but did not present a new avalanche hazard today.