Northern San Juan
SnowpackDavid Mower · Dec 18, 2012 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Overcast sky with a subtle S breeze, 18F and light snow filling the valley
Snowpack
Arriving upon ridgeline at just over 12,000' the snowpack measured from 18'' to over 40'' in windloaded areas. Widespread cracking when approaching convexities off the ridge, a recent slide two hundred vertical feet below, which looked roughly three hundred feet wide, a foot or so deep and terminated in a gully, along with deteriorating weather made us look to the heavier treed area for a descent. Good turns ensued and in the lower gully the snow began to react again. Four slides to the ground; two on NE open faces, one on a more NW wall, and one in N glades. All were recent storm snow (12''-18'') on our faceted base. One carried a skier twenty vertical without a scratch. The snowpack proved very weak in open areas, while heavily treed zones maintained more strength. At ridgeline the windloaded N side had long shooting cracks and collapsing. Somewhat touchy snowpack.