Front Range
SnowpackJason Konigsberg · Mar 5, 2016 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Cloud cover increased throughout the morning to overcast by noon. Winds were light with moderate gusts near and above treeline in areas traveled. Temperature at 12k feet was around 30 degrees at noon.
Snowpack
The snowpack in this area is weak with poor structure. The snowpack depth near and just above treeline ranged from 1 to 1.5 meters on northerly aspects. In two different snowpits, I found faceted snow that was fist hardness sitting below layers of snow that were 1 to 2 steps harder. Although there are weak layers of snow in many zones this is the poorest structure I have seen with the softest weak layers. A medium-size storm with wind would most likely reawaken these buried layers.---Southerly aspects remained firm and did not soften ATL. In one snowpit at 12k feet on a southerly aspect I found a layered winter-like snowpack. This may not be representative of other south aspects due to a low slope angle and less direct sun.