Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Ann Mellick · Mar 28, 2011 · Northern San Juan

Weather

cool, cloudy and and blustery

Snowpack

Main concern lies in the upper snowpack. Lots of incremental loading over the past week (1.75" h20 in the last 7 days) with relentless south wind. Northerly slopes above treeline are fat! Terrain features softening as they continue to fill in. Main hazard lies on wind loaded north facing slopes near and above treeline. Lots of layering on these slopes with plenty of weak interfaces, just not enough load at one time to have caused a natural cycle. Main interfaces of concern: just below dust layer(~8"-12" down) and below thin surface wind crust (this is not currently a problem, but would be with a good new load.) Clean shears at these interfaces. Snow is slabby and stiff above tl. Not very good skiing. We had one propigating crack that shot out about 20' in the coulior- stiff snow in steep terrain, but no action otherwise. Below treeline snow seems warmer and generally settled in.