Front Range

Avalanche

Jason Maurer · Jan 3, 2017 · Front Range

View on map

Weather

Butler Gulch, Overcast skies with temps well below freezing. Above treeline at 11,800ft S1 -S2 snowfall, winds- moderate out of the N/NW. Minimal blowing snow or wind effected snow observed on north thru east aspects.

Snowpack

Butler Gulch, east side runs. North East aspect, HS= 165cm at 11,800ft. HST= 15-20cm light density snow residing over a firm underlying snowpack with depth hoar lingering underneath at a thickness of 24cm (4F) near the ground. Above this depth hoar layer is a 105cm thick pencil hard wind slab layer. Hard CT results in attempting to get a failure on those advanced facets near the ground but was getting CTM's 27cm down that were failing on buried near surface facets aproxx. 1mm in size. Did hear one whomp after descending from pit location but saw no shooting cracks.

Avalanche

None Observed