San Juan Hut Route

This is as clean as March gets in the San Juans. CAIC rates Moderate danger across all elevations with no identified avalanche problems, meaning the snowpack has settled nicely and you've got wide-open terrain options. The standard spring avalanche cycle hasn't kicked in yet with highs only reaching the low 40s at valley elevations. NW winds at 15-25 mph today and Friday could build minor wind slabs on southeast-facing terrain above treeline, but with no persistent weak layers identified, these should be shallow and easy to identify. SNOTEL data shows variable snow depths across the region with some stations showing falling trends, indicating normal settlement rather than concerning melt patterns given the cool temperatures. Stream flows are running well below median, confirming that snowmelt isn't a major factor yet this season. The weather window is excellent through Saturday with sunny skies and light precipitation chances. Temperatures will stay in a sweet spot — cold enough overnight (low 20s) to keep the snowpack locked up, but warm enough during the day (mid-40s) for comfortable touring without triggering wet loose activity. Plan your bigger objectives for today through Saturday before clouds increase Saturday night. With sunrise at 7:27 AM and nearly 12 hours of daylight, you can afford a relaxed alpine start and still have plenty of margin for longer tours or route-finding challenges.