Front Range
AvalanchePaul Rogers · Mar 10, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Warmer than expected. Sky was scattered . Temps: 30-32 when sun was out, but dropped to 20-25 under cloud cover. Winds were light from WSW. Light snow transport at ridge top for brief periods. Period of S-1 for 30 minutes, otherwise, no precip. Observed faceted crystals on surface. Near/below TL top 5cm becoming moist on S-E slopes.
Snowpack
HS: Below TL 170cm, Near TL 260, Above TL 300. Near/above TL, in the upper snowpack, observed a 10cm, 1F windslab with 1mm facets underneath, resting on 3-4cm of softer 4F snow. This was collapsing but not propagating beyond tips of skis. Below that are a series of thick 1F to 1F+ windslabs with layers of concern 50cm and 70 cm down. Test profile on ENE aspect, 11,800 feet, 25 degrees, with HS of 300: CTE BRK, down 10cm, on 1mm facets. CTE SC, down 50cm on 1-2mm rounding faceted particles. CTM SP, down 70cm on 1-2mm rounding faceted particles. Ran two tests with same results.
Avalanche
Observed from a distance, R4, D3 avalanche on an east aspect above TL, that slid in the last 48 hours, and appears to be a natural. Estimated it ran +900 feet with 7-10 foot crown. This slide path is on the SE ridge that extends from peak 12,507 in the drainage just south of the pump house drainage. Personally, I've only seen this slide once, in the last 10 years, since it's normally wind scoured. Observed 3 additional D2's on east aspects, above TL in steep wind loaded terrain.