Northern San Juan
SnowpackJeremy Yanko · Mar 5, 2024 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Increasing cloud cover accompanied with light SW winds. The Molas Pass weather station (10,801 Ft) was at 33F.
Snowpack
This area revealed 10cm of recently settled storm snow with the top 5cm moistening with a sponge-like feel underfoot by 11am. However the surface snow remained cold on this E/NE aspect where sun protected by the canopy along the flanks of the paths. The micro due east aspects in this area held a 2cm thick melt-freeze crust (Pencil) at the old interface and seemingly a new thin surface crust is now in development. There were two discernable dust layers in the top 35 cm that lent to stubborn snowpack test scores but had clean (Q1) quality shears below each red stripe in the snow profile. The top 10cm appears off color with the annual dust on snow event. In general, the structure is reasonably strong relative to our climate and shallow pack in the middle of these paths. I did find pockets near rocks and in the woods where the overall height of snow was a meter or less and were holding a good pile of static 3-5mm facets at the foundation.