Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Jeremy Yanko · Mar 24, 2022 · Northern San Juan

Weather

Breezy and balmy.

Snowpack

Traveled on a predominantly westerly aspect from 9800-12k near the Continental divide where typically, a shallower snowpack exists. Around mid morning on the approach the snow surface was firm and supportable. Closer to 11k, the recent north/northeast winds had put down a 2-3" wind slab over the crust that would crack underfoot but unreactive otherwise on steep test slopes. Checked out a SW aspect at 12k with a height of snow at 85cm and a wind beaten W aspect 300' lower that holds a height of 54cm. Both samples had similar structures with a crust near or at the surface and a stronger crust with dust mid-pack. There is no cohesive slab or "body" built into the profile on this wide open face at treeline and it was easy to achieve boot penetration to the ground. Around 3pm on S/SW the top 10cm was moist but could not squeeze water out of the big grains. The brown crust beneath remained supportable to both skis and boot all the way down and out the the drainage. However, made a note to throw on some spring wax as the glide was resistant at that hour.