Brown and Hermit Lakes with Rio Grande Pyramid in the distance

Papoose Fire burn area with snowcover receded to highest elevations

Heavy, clean snowcover blanketed the Spring Creek Pass locale as dust layer D3-WY2014 lay just below the surface. CSAS field assistant Andrew Temple is seen returning from the completed snow profile, at the site in the distance.

The Spring Creek CODOS site on May 1, 2013, as Andrew Temple approaches in sneakers.

On April 12 dust layer D6 was strongly present, buried 6” below the surface.  Clear evidence of a surface melt episode was observed in the snow immediately below D6 and snow temperatures had warmed from a mean of -6.9° C on March 23 to a mean of -3.0° C.

D6 intensity nearly matches the magnitude of deposition at Senator Beck Basin, only 30 miles to the west.  The Rio Grande headwaters, at Stony Pass, are just 12 miles southeast of Senator Beck Basin. 

The Spring Creek Pass CODOS site, looking north toward Spring Creek Pass proper.

CSAS field assistant Andrew Temple preparing the March 23, 2013 snow pit at the Spring Creek Pass CODOS site, with peak Baldy Cinco (13,383’) in the distance.

The March 23, 2013 snow profile at the Spring Creek Pass CODOS site.  A weak dust layer D2 was present mid-pack and strong hints of event D5 were at/in the surface and that event was verified farther down valley. 

Down valley from the CODOS site, just before descending to the Rio Grande valley floor, dust layer D5 was exposed in patches on the snow surface, where wind had stripped away new snow.

Tracks lead to the Spring Creek Pass CODOS snowpit site, as seen after returning to State Hwy 149.

The upper Rio Grande headwaters as seen from Stony Pass on May 19th, 2012.  This rare mid-May opening of the Stony Pass road opening was possible because of the season’s sub-par snowpack and early snowmelt cycle.  Dust-on-snow conditions at Stony Pass closely resembled those observed at Senator Beck Basin at the time.

Rio Grande headwaters

Views of the Brown Lakes on March 17th and April 9th (next photo) in spring 2012 showing the considerable loss of snowpack.

Views of the Brown Lakes on April 9th and March 17th (previous photo) in spring 2012 showing the considerable loss of snowpack.

Spring Creek Pass CODOS snowpit site on the distant slope on April 9th, 2012. At lower elevations, much of the March snowpack had also disappeared.

View of Spring Creek CODOS site

CSAS field assistant Andrew Temple returning to the car after completing our March 17th snowpit at the Spring Creek Pass CODOS site.  The shallow snowpit can be seen in the distance near the left edge of the photo, below the forest edge. 

Andrew Temple in Spring Creek CODOS snow pit.

Spring Creek Pass snow profile.