Northern San Juan
SnowpackMatt Steen · Nov 29, 2012 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Cool temperatures, calm winds with few clouds.
Snowpack
Northerly facing terrain near and above treeline held 1 to 2 feet of snow consisting of cohesionless facets. Thin wind slabs, 1 to 3 inches thick, were supportable on northeast facing gullies and terrain features. Large faceted grains (2-3 mm) were growing below this slab layer. The rest of the snowpack consisted of smaller grain facets (1-2 mm) to near the ground, and depth hoar (4-6 mm) was on the ground. Below treeline, the terrain was shallow, measuring 1 foot or less. Supportable melt-freeze crusts were on slopes facing the sun, and cohesionless facets on shadier aspects. The snowpack on southerly facing terrain was nearly non-existent.