Northern San Juan
SnowpackChris Dickson · Mar 29, 2022 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Intense snowfall between 3-7am dropped 4-6" in the area, with snow coming in right side up. Then, mid-morning, the clouds parted, the sun peeked out, and temps climbed into the 40's quickly moistening the surface of the new snow. At 12:30, the clouds closed back in and temps dropped and the moistened surface cooled into a subtle crust. Moments of intense graupel were followed by bursts of sleet/hail in the later afternoon during periods of convection.
Snowpack
Snowpack structure, depth, and strength vary greatly right now by aspect and elevation. Below 10,700', a poor overnight freeze resulted in a punchy trapdoor snowpack, completely saturated to the ground on every aspect in this area. Only in areas open to the sky, did the melt-freeze crust prove supportive below treeline. Dug 3 pits along the tour. Pit #1: SW Aspect, 10,000', HS: 78cm, with 18cm of new snow sitting above a 20cm MF crust, sitting above moist facets to the ground. Very Springy snowpack on this sunny slopes below treeline. Pit #2: NW Aspect, 10,000', HS: 135cm, with 15cms of new snow sitting above a F over 4F slab, sitting above the 2/21 layer. Below the 2/21 layer, super wet facets persist to the ground. ECTP13 at the 2/21 interface. Pit #3: E Aspect, 10,700', HS: 110cm, with 15cms of new snow above a stout 20cm MF Crust, with 70cms of very wet facets and 3mm depth hoar at the ground.