Front Range
AvalancheAnonymous ยท May 9, 2021
Weather
At noon, complete cloud cover but no precipitation. Moderate winds from the SW at ~20mph sustained and gusts up to ~30. Air temp estimated to be mid to low 20s above treeline. Below tree line no wind and temps nearing high 30s.
Snowpack
Below tree line: 2-3" fresh snow on top of melt freeze layer that turned to slush later in the day. Above tree line: snow hard packed and wind blown with notable areas of ice sheets on the SE aspect of the summit. At roughly 12,000 ft new snow (presumably wind loaded) not bonded to underlying melt freeze layer created a shallow sheet of sliding snow triggered by human weight. Amount inconsequential for avalanche concerns but made travel across the snow pack challenging. Surface conditions highly variable due to rapidly changing weather.
Avalanche
Small areas of old slough occurring at tree line observed on NE facing aspects. No new avalanches observed at any elevation.