Southern San Juan

Clear skies. Temperatures in the low-40's. Winds calm.

On a north-northeast-facing slope at 10,900 feet, the snow depth is 70-80 centimeters. The top 10-15 cm consists of new snow and graupel from the December 25-27 storms. The new snow sits over a two- to five-centimeter-thick crust that frequently collapsed during our tour. Below the crust, the snowpack is 1-2 millimeter facets to the ground. At 11,700 feet on a north-northwest-facing slope, the snow depth is 45 centimeters, with a one-centimeter rime crust on the surface. Below the crust, the snowpack is mostly two-millimeter facets. There is still a remnant of the November surface hoar layer in the middle of the snowpack; however, it is mostly turning to two-millimeter facets. The layer was only reactive in a compression test (CT 21, Q2). At 11,450 feet on a north-facing slope, the snow depth is 85 centimeters. In this area, the storm snow was not wind-affected, and it accumulated 20 centimeters from the December 25 and 27 storms. The new snow sits over a two-centimeter ice crust, likely from rain on Christmas. The crust sits over four finger facets to the ground. During an extended column test, the column propagated in the facets below the ice crust on isolation (ECTPV @60). Sheltered areas below treeline with a similar setup are the biggest concern with new snow on the way.