Northern San Juan
SnowpackJeremy Yanko · Feb 11, 2025 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Overcast with a lowering ceiling, Moderate SW winds, ~25F
Snowpack
The hands on focus took place in the Brooklyns group which saw a widespread wet avalanche cycle on 2/2. Height of snow in the runout zones above the road are holding 80-90cm whereas the steeper portions near starting zones 600-900 feet higher have half of that snowpack. The current snow surfaces on this mostly west aspect from 10-11k reveal near-surface facets, a 5cm pencil- hard crust or glazed knife hard bed surfaces. I found the melt-freeze crust that formed over the last week or so to be easily breakable by skis for the majority of this uphill traverse. The main body of the snowpack below the surface, where intact is comprised of large grain facets and chains of depth hoar that will continue to be concerning with each loading event. Even though this group of paths have depleted a fair bit of volume in the start zones via the natural wet-cycle, the path tracks are firm and "greased" where a dry avalanche release could travel at a high velocity and run surprisingly far.