Southern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey · Nov 26, 2018 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Sunny, light winds, and cool.
Snowpack
The snowpack below treeline remains thin on southerly facing slopes and deepest on northerly facing slopes. Snow on shady slopes is 1+ m near and above treeline. Snow on sunny slopes near and above treeline is consolidated and capped with a firm melt freeze crust. Basal and mid-pack snow structure remains weak in many locations. Recent snow is soft and unconsolidated below treeline but more cohesive near and above treeline with pockets of firm wind-drifted snow. We observed lots of audible collapses, cracking in wind-drifted pockets, and settlement cracks from collapses along ridgelines.