Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Briant Wiles · Feb 17, 2013 · Northern San Juan

Weather

Mostly sunny to scattered clouds on Sunday. Light to moderate winds out of the NNW for most of the weekend changing to SSW on Monday. HS was 95 cm at 11,600'. 3 cm of new snow Sunday night.

Snowpack

Snowpack was variable to say the least. Punchy unsupportive snow below about 11,400'. Between 11,400 and tree line snowpack has a supportive mid-pack with dense 1f deteriorating to the bottom ~40 cm of 4f to fist. While there does appear to be some sintering happening in the weaker snow the bottom 10 - 20 cm had well developed facets. Experienced several collapses in the near tree line zone. 8 to 10 inches of ski pen. rode slopes up to 30 degrees with no other signs of instability. Above tree line is a layer cake of windslabs. This area has been pummeled by the wind from many different directions which lead to small cornices forming on different aspects. Observed a small natural on monday in a crossloaded gully.