Northern San Juan
SnowpackJohn Snook · Feb 26, 2011 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Strong south winds around 30 mph with higher gusts.
Snowpack
About a foot of new snow, although variable due to high wind transport. Snow surface was soft slab at beginning of tour. Not much cracking. Wind effects became very noticeable toward end of tour as snow surface was getting stiffer with more cracking. One natural observed on a steep NE aspect looking west toward Mineral Basin at a couple hundred feet below treeline. SS-N-R2D1. We also skier triggered a small soft slab on a similar aspect and elevation - SS-AS-R1D1 - 1' deep. Both slides started from a point location with flanks extending downhill at 45 degree angles. Hasty pit on ESE aspect showed hard melt-freeze crust at 65cm down with several layers in the top 65cm all fairly reactive to shovel shear tests. Danger seemed to be increasing during the time we were out there with stiffening wind slab becoming more reactive with time. We toured to just above treeline. Areas above treeline were getting scoured on S aspects and heavy wind loading on N aspects.