Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey Jeff Davis · Apr 9, 2021 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Clear and warm below treeline. Moderate northwest winds and angry gusts keeping air temperatures cooler at upper elevations. Winds produced snow plumes off peaks and ridges but unfortunately, sublimating the snow back into the atmosphere.
Snowpack
The melt-off has kicked into high gear at lower elevations. Below about 10,000 feet, only northerly-facing slopes hold enough snow for travel. Water flow in creeks is rising and snow bridges are getting thin. The quick reduction in snow depth and cover is slowly working it's way up in elevation, but plenty of snow cover exist at higher elevations for recreation. Continued freeze-thaw cycles and established drainage pathways has shifted our wet snow avalanche hazard to isolated steep, rocky areas that become soft and punchy from daytime heating. Strong winds today kept snow surfaces firm near and above treeline - only due south aspects softened enough to hold a ski edge but not enough to classify as "corn" snow. Our most recent warmup even affected high, north slopes forming a stout, non-breakable crust on the surface. All of this following the uptick in wet snow avalanche activity last weekend leaves generally safe avalanche conditions on most slopes in the La Plata Mountains.