[Cdt-l] San Juan Snow Conditions

[George Brewster]

Hey folks,
I hiked Southbound last year, and have the good fortune of having 
recently moved to Ouray CO, which is about 15 miles as the crow flies 
from the trail in the San Juans. I just made a reconissance mission up 
to Stony Pass, which is on the CDT about 5 miles north of where you can 
take the trail into Silverton.

To give an idea of the snow situation, here are a couple photos from 
Saturday (June 5), taken from the summit of Canby Mountain (just N of 
Stony Pass). Generally, the snow didn't seem too bad. Certainly plenty 
of it around, but quite patchy, and probably not too hard to avoid. 
Also, it's been melting really fast, as it's been quite hot, and the 
heavy dust layer on the snow really speeds up the melt.

Looking SE along the CDT (Rio Grande Pyramid prominent on the left):
http://brewster.org/gallery/george/2010/cdt_sanjuan/P1080177.JPG.html

Looking NE along the CDT:
http://brewster.org/gallery/george/2010/cdt_sanjuan/P1080179.JPG.html

And, just for fun, here's a couple shots of what it looked like when the 
SB crew was going through in early October last year:
http://brewster.org/gallery/george/cdt/P1040297.JPG.html
http://brewster.org/gallery/george/cdt/P1040535.JPG.html

Also, I'd love to help out some of you hikers, so if you're going to be 
doing the San Juan route (which you really should) and want to come off 
near Silverton, let me know. I managed to get my Subaru right up onto 
the trail as Stony Pass, so If we set up a date, I could pick up 3 
people at the trail, feed you, let you stay in my apartment, do laundry, 
etc, and drop you back off there the next day. Might be a little hard to 
work out timing for a rendevous, and it will be subject to my work 
schedule, but let me know and we'll give it a try -- email or give a 
call at 617 eight nine four 5657.

-George
CDT 09