Front Range
SnowpackAustin DiVesta · Jan 28, 2025 · Front Range
Weather
It was a sensational Colorado Bluebird Day! There were light winds, but other than that, it was a pleasant day overall.
Snowpack
I observed a snow depth of 105 cm at an elevation of approximately 11,800 feet on a northwest-facing slope. In this area, I obtained propagating results in long column tests (ECTP21 and PST40/100 END), both of which indicated instability in the basal weak layers located 50 cm above the ground. Additionally, at around 12,700 feet on an east-facing slope, I recorded a snow depth of 225 cm and found hard-propagating results 50 cm from the surface. In both snowpits, I encountered a new persistent grain that varied in burial depth. On the northwest-facing slope, this grain was located 10-15 cm below the surface. There isn't a sufficiently thick slab above this layer, which could pose a risk, especially if we receive more snowfall. Conversely, this layer was found at a depth of about 50 cm on the east-facing slope. Here, I would be more concerned about the margins of the slope and the potential for triggering a much larger avalanche.