Sangre de Cristo
SnowpackRich Rogers · Apr 2, 2024 · Sangre de Cristo
Weather
Warm throughout the day. Calm at valley floor. Northeast winds became noticeable just over 10,000ft with effect increasing with elevation.
Snowpack
New snow surfaces became wet on Southerly aspects after mid morning. Observed runnels and evidence of pooling meltwater near and below treeline on E-S-W. In the late afternoon shade, those surfaces crusted over making the descent "sporty". WSW above treeline appeared to only have recent snow that has fallen in March. On a Northeast aspect, above treeline, I found persistent slab snowpack structure that showed propagating results upon hard(heavy) loading steps during tests. Facets below a melt-freeze crusts from early march and facets near the ground are the weak layers of concern on Northerly aspects. Descending on a Northeast aspect below treeline, I was happily surprised to find soft cool snow that gave relief from the other "sporty" aspects.