Front Range
AvalancheAlexander Greenwald · Nov 20, 2016 · Front Range
Snowpack
Around treeline the new snowfall from November 17-18 is about 1 foot in soft powder sitting on a ground level base of 2-4 inches of facets in sun and wind protected areas, any snow exposed to wind or the sun has consolidated into slabs. Above treeline the base to ground layer is largely comprised of several inches of facets, or October-November snow that has turned into a several inch to over a foot slab (rain, sun, temperature affected). On top of this slab is several inches to well over a foot of fresh snow from last week that is easily sluffing off in areas, and other areas forming a solid wind slab that is thicker then 2 feet in areas.
Avalanche
Four different pockets, naturally and skier triggered avalanches were observed on the North and North Eastern aspects. In steep terrain,two avalanches that were skier triggered were observed in steep tree sections on South Diamonds Northern face. Skiers center bowl and Skiers left bowls on South Diamond Peak are wind loaded with soft powder, the ridge is already hosting several feet high cornices. I ski cut both bowls and couldn't get anything to do much more then sluff in steep areas.