Northern San Juan
SnowpackAmy Pertuz · Jan 17, 2020 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Squally, with periods of intense, blustery snow, and clear spells in mid day. Temps began mild and cooled off in pm. Winds SW-> NW in pm.
Snowpack
Two pulses of intense snow made for about 5” HST. Snow came in with wind during the morning round and made for creamier, denser surface conditions, topped by a couple more inches of regular-density snow in afternoon. In protected areas below tree line, prior winds did not strip the snow away, but the midpack has faceted more since I was here last. Still no propagating results in a pit at 11,400ft NW aspect, HS 157cm. Depth Hoar here is showing signs of strengthening. Localized cracking in stiffer pockets of wind drifted snow were encountered near TL. BTL, good skiing on protected NW with no cracking or whumphing on slopes to 40 degrees.