Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Alex Haddad & Ben Pritchett · Mar 25, 2025 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Clear, calm and temperatures well above freezing.

Snowpack

The snowpack remains mostly dry above treeline, but today was the first day of significant meltwater infiltration. On an east-facing slope, at the edge of a 10-plus-foot deep wind-drifted slope, meltwater drained into the first couple feet of the slab. The meltwater was still a couple feet away from the still-dry faceted base. A couple of non-freezing nights could allow the water to reach the depth hoar and increase the Wet Slab avalanche concerns above treeline. Above treeline on a southeast-facing slope, the height of snow was 205 cm at 12,000 feet. Water had moved through the upper 50 cm of the snowpack. Below the water the snowpack was still dry. We had an ECTX and a CTN in this snowpit. Below treeline, meltwater is draining to the ground on all slopes except northwest through north to northeast. Here the Wet Slab avalanche potential will rise over the next couple of days.