Front Range
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Mar 2, 2020 · Front Range
Weather
The dark clouds arrived at 9:30am with light snow. The winds remained calm from the east with no blowing snow. Temperatures were 28F degrees.
Snowpack
Near and above treeline areas have been wind scoured, leaving behind a pencil hard snow surface. This supportable wind-packed layer and the near surface facets that reside below are the primary concern for this location. Stability tests reveal that the surface slab overlying facets can collapse with moderate forces applied. The wind packed surface layer is variable in thickness from 4-8 inches and tapers near rocks and vegetation. Another snowpit was dug adjacent to mine with only 80cm of totoal snow depth, with an ECT failure near the ground in depth hoar. Sheltered slopes have soft snow but sun exposed areas are developing a melt-freeze crust.
Avalanche
No new avalanches.