Northern San Juan

Snowpack

We finally had a good freeze overnight, but warm temperatures, full sun and a dusty snow surface quickly got the melt going again today. The snow was markedly cooler above treeline, but still softened with daytime heating. The dustiest slopes were certainly the weakest and most punchy. Northerly slopes above treeline as well as due north slopes near and below treeline still have a wintery snowpack with cold snow- mostly the mid winter slabs sitting on early winter facets (same ol' same ol'). Slides there will be difficult to trigger, but will still propagate efficiently once started. The potential for triggering wet slabs will become an increasing problem on sunny slopes with continued warm temps this week.