Southern San Juan

Snowpack

Matt Huber · Feb 21, 2022 · Southern San Juan

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Weather

Cloud cover increased throughout the trip, 100% coverage by 3:00 PM. Strong southwest winds at ridgeline, strong enough to erode old snow surfaces but no significant loading.

Snowpack

Temperatures remained cold enough during the day to keep the supportable melt-freeze crust intact. The melt-freeze crust can be found on all sun-exposed aspects near and below treeline. Most northerly-facing slopes are topped with a layer of near surface facets, with the exception being wind exposed slopes near ridgelines where the surface is wind pressed and stiffened.