Front Range
SnowpackJason Konigsberg · May 7, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Mostly clear and very windy at ridgetop. Down off of the ridge it was still windy but not the 40-mph-plus gusts at ridgetop. Warm day.
Snowpack
The snow surface saw a good refreeze last night despite the above-freezing overnight temps. Travel was supportable until about 11 am depending on aspect/elevation. Prior to that, ski crampons were necessary on steep southerly slopes. I descended a southeast-facing slope at 13k feet around 10 AM and found the top inch of the snowpack had just softened. I went back for another lap and ski pen increased to 3 or 4 inches. I avoided a couple steep terrain features especially those with a more easterly tilt and also confined gullies. I was able to push wet snow and start small avalanches but they didn't entrain much snow and arrested quickly. Big rollerballs were also coming down from my ski turns where the snow was white and not dusty. A group skied a due-south-facing slope at around 11 am with more supportable conditions and no rollerballing. I suspect this slope deteriorated shortly after like the southeast one that I was on.--- On a steep below treeline southeast-facing slope on my exit, the snowpack was completely unsupportable. Staying in previous tracks on the exit out the gulch was only way to avoid sinking into the snowpack.