Northern San Juan
SnowpackChris Bilbrey Jeff Davis · Mar 17, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Bluebird, warm, and light winds making for a nice cool-off along ridge tops. New surface hoar (5 to 10 mm) in wind-sheltered areas mostly below treeline.
Snowpack
We observed widespread natural avalanche activity that most likely occurred on 3/13. Many large to very large avalanches on all aspects and elevations. This portion of the North San Juan zone may have hit Extreme avalanche danger during that cycle. Warm temperatures post storm are having a significant impact on settling and consolidation of upper snowpack. Top meter consist of primarily a 1F slab with no obvious PWLs. ECTs produced non-propagating results. Top 10 cm consists of moist grains with no evidence of downward water movement where we dug. Below moist snow surface, snowpack remains dry. Numerous loose wet slides on southerly aspects with longest running slides initiating from above treeline. Northerly slopes still holding soft snow making for nice riding conditions. No signs of instability outside of massive old crowns highlighting deeper weak layers lurking in the snowpack.