Front Range
SnowpackAJ Beaver · Nov 5, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Mines Peak W/SW faces near 11,500. Overcast and low light conditions throughout the day. Intermittent snow showers and winds gusting to 25 mph along ridges. Temps were mild staying around 20º F most of the morning.
Snowpack
Heavy wind drifted snow from this weeks storm has consolidated below 11,500' creating a 4-6" thick layer of punchy snow that resulted in several surface cracks and instability near convex roll overs and pillows. Above 11,500' the wind had scoured the snow surface resulting in fist hard slab only about 2-3" thick. The Fairway had not yet filled but the base of the chute is also filled with a harder thin layer of wind scoured snow. Trees on the W face were fairly covered and had soft snow still near the trees. Noticed several rocks and underlying debris but did not hit anything substantial.