Observation: Abajos

Observation Date

12/27/2025

Observer Name

Trenbeath

Region

Abajos

Location Name or Route

Abajo Peak

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Milk bottle day with breezy conditions and light snowfall mixed with graupel.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Rain-Rime Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

It's been two days since the Christmas rain above 11,000' which was followed by a couple inches of snow and then surprisingly, capped with a melt freeze "heat" crust. Surface was mostly supportable but somewhat punchy. Trees and weather station were heavily rimed. After two weeks of record warm temperatures 20+ degrees above normal, S-SW aspects are melted out, spotty snow remains on more sheltered SE and W aspects. NW-N-E have anywhere from 6" at 9000' and 20-24" at 11,000'.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

The majority of the snowpack below the recent rain/rime crust is faceted with an average hardness of 4f-. Warm temperatures and a lack of a temperature gradient have initiated the rounding process. There isn't currently a slab and the danger remains low. Small or even modest amounts of new snow will likely only generate wind drifted or new snow problems. It will take a significant load to affect the facets below the crust.

Snow Profile

Aspect

North

Elevation

11,200'

Slope Angle

18°

Comments

Coverage remains quite low for this time of year and I utilized a rather unorthodox method of transportation on an access road that winds around the south end of the range and eventually on to more westerly and occasionally wooded slopes where snow has accumulated and stayed since November. I first encountered real snow in these areas at around 9600' and was still able to drive the machine over increasingly snow covered terrain to about 10,400' where I got out and walked.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Low

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

None

Coordinates

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