Southern San Juan

Snowpack

Susan Hale · Nov 27, 2013 · Southern San Juan

Weather

Clear, calm and relively warm.

Snowpack

At our study plot here, snow has settled nearly 10" since the recent storm #5. West - South - East aspects continue to sluff as temperatures warm and are generally moist with surface crusts developing. The new snow on north aspects where we were has also settled nicely - still in decomposing fragmented stage, very small and well bonded. A ski pole test prompted a quick pit. Performed several tests on a small steep north-facing slope. Results were all CTV (failed on isolation), Q1's repeated x 3, at the interface of what we think is Storm 3 (Nov 4th 5th) & Storm 4 (Nov 15-17) on 2mm facets that transition to depth hoar closer to the bottom. These two storm layers were already hard to distinguish except for a hardness difference and faceting found in the storm 4 layer. So, while it seems pretty mild-mannered and safe in those trees, I'd hate to run across those same results in bigger, more open terrain nearby...