Northern San Juan
SnowpackJeff Davis · Dec 11, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Overcast conditions to start the tour, but clouds parted in the early afternoon making way for a brief moment of clear skies. Temperatures remind mild as winds blew from the west.
Snowpack
tr"-2" of new snow feel in the past 24 hours. Snow totals directly related to elevation. At low elevations ( <10,000) very little snow was observed, but more accumulation as you make your way to near and above treeline. Strong west winds were quick to compact the high density snow into wind-drifted slabs, but they were not reactive. The new snow feel on a variable snowpack. Below treeline it fell on shallow pack consiting of facets. Near and above treeline it feel onto firm wind-slabs on north and east and melt-freeze crusts and bare ground on south and west aspects. In general the new snow in the area I traveled today were not enough to increase avalanche hazard.