Northern San Juan
SnowpackMatt Steen · Feb 20, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Obscured skies with snow flurries through the day (S-1 to S1). By 3:30pm, snowfall tapered to S-1.
Snowpack
Our ascent was primarily on southwest and west facing slopes below treeline. 1 to 2 inches of new snow rested on a supportable crust. On these slopes the snowpack was composed of melt-freeze crusts and faceted snow measuring 1-1.5 feet deep, mostly supportable, but occasionally breakable crust. Steep northwest through north facing slopes had previously slid in the trees below treeline, most likely from the mid February storm cycle. Roughly 2 to 3 feet of snow was measured in less steep areas unaffected from the previous natural avalanche cycle. These persistent slabs were faceting and were four fingers to 1 finger hard. Previous winds drifted snow on ridges below treeline, and on exposed ridges and gullies near treeline. These wind slabs, which varied in thickness, were supportable. The new 1 to 2 inches of new snow easily sluffed on these wind slabs, but did not produce any hazard. Our decent was on a northwest-facing slope that had previously slid. Previous snowstorms deposited 1 to 2 feet of snow on top of the old bed surface and debris. No cracking or collapsing observed.