Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey · Apr 23, 2023 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Beautiful spring day with light winds along ridgetops.
Snowpack
The surface sun cups were deeper in spots than the depth of surface softening. Snowmobile and on-ski travel in the morning barley made an impression in the firm, re-frozen snow surface. Boot penetration was negligible as well around 11,000 feet to start. Surfaces eventually softened under today's sun, but wind-exposed places needed extra time. We found a very thin, clear re-frozen lens on east to south-facing slopes above treeline. This layer had enough continuity to hold shape in the sun, but easily broke up as we traveled across slopes. Booting up a southwest-facing slope in the alpine yielded steps around 4 or 5 inches deep and very supportive below. Once we approached 13,000 feet and higher, surface softening was about half as much, but still enough to make purchase. Even below treeline areas are resisting becoming rotten from the current weather regime. Evidence from snowfall this week was limited to high, north-facing terrain, but only amounted to a couple of inches. Deeper, soft drifts were found below ridges and in gullies and didn't seem deep enough or broad enough across terrain to pose much hazard except maybe a small slide in complex or extreme terrain.