Front Range

Snowpack

Fritz Sperry · Nov 1, 2017 · Front Range

Weather

Weather was very windy gusts above 50mph, and partly cloudy. Temps at noon were in the low 30s, much warmer when the sun came out and the wind stopped.

Snowpack

We headed up thru the thin trees [in Sheep Creek] from the memorial and I dug two hand pits along the way. The 40cm pack was very faceted at the base. The top had a 3 cm wind slab on it that was reactive. This face was more windward and was about 340 on the compass. We reached the ridge and began to discuss options. The margins of the tight trees looked powdery but short and safe. The gully was brought up and we thought it might slide but being very low angle and that there weren't soft slabs we thought we could manage it. We discussed safe zones and I dropped in to shoot pics. I went for the windward rib to skier's right and had no reaction from the snow. My partner dropped in and initiated his cut. The slope spider webbed and he made for a safe spot on the periphery of the slide and observed from there. After wards I crossed the path and made for the margin of the trees. As I was returning to the skin track I encountered shooting cracks.------- We returned to the crown and did an incomplete pit. Our CT score was CT2 Q1 and the upper one was one of the fastest cleanest shears I've ever seen. It failed in two places 15 cm from surface on last Fridays buried surface hoar(fast) and 30 cm from surface on basal facets(slower). The snow pack was 55cm total and fist density throughout. Slope angle at the 11,960' crown was 30 degrees. Aspect was 15 degrees on the compass. We continued to ski avoiding avalanche terrain by skiing the west ridge of Sheep Creek from about 13K.