How high were you where you saw the snow to be melted?

I'm hoping to do a two/three day backpacking/scouting trip at about 11,500' in the San Juan mountains NE of Durango, Colorado in mid-October. The recent snows made me despair of my prospects of carrying out my backpacking/scouting plan, but your news about melt-off has given me encouragement.

Anyone care to comment on my chances for doing a backpacking trip at that elevation -- 11,500' -- in the San Juans about October 20 this year? The problem I fear is too much snow on the ground to go in. Of course, I know more snow -- including heavy snow -- is always possible at the drop of a hat at this time of year.