Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Mark Gober · Mar 9, 2011 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Beautiful day- clear, calm winds at 13k and mild temps.

Snowpack

I dug a pit at 13,000 feet on a ENE aspect and found 3 Q1 shears within 15 taps. The first was 45cm from surface at a density change in the newer snow-most likely at the interface in between this past storm and the storm from Friday a week ago. This was not a fast Q1 (CT11) but very clean. The next was at CT13 and happened 65cm below surface. This was fast and clean on small crystals in between two hard slabs. The next happened at 75cm at CT15and once again, clean and fast in between hard slabs. The first shear plane should settle out with the mild temps, but the ones in between the hard slabs are not as susceptible to settle out as quick. Below TL, things did not seem as sensitive, but did not dig a pit.