Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Mark Gober · Feb 23, 2017 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cold and bounced between snowing S2 and sunshine. Sort of spring-like except for the temperatures.

Snowpack

There was new cornice development at ridgeline near tree line and higher (we did not go too far above treeline) that would crack and release but would not propagate nor run very far. We could not get any slab to release below cornice. New snow seemed to bond well and was nonreactive. New wind slabs were 30-40cm deep at that elevation band. Guessing in the Alpine the wind slabs are a fair bit thicker on northerly terrain. Quick hand pits on southerly aspects below TL also showed good bonding with old surface.