Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Jeff Davis · Dec 23, 2018 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Snow started to fall and the wind picked up around 1PM. Temperatures were in the teen's and the light became flat as the storm rolled in.

Snowpack

The snow surface in the alpine is firm. Recent winds have stiffened the surface on any exposed slope. Old tracks have become raised and sastrugi exists on the surface. The snowpack sounds hollow and drum like. Winds continue to move snow onto leeward slopes, but there is not much snow available for transport. Near-treeline exposed slopes are similar to the alpine with a firm surface, and below treeline slopes continue to facet. One collapse was triggered in a dish like feature.