Front Range
AvalancheDale Atkins · Jan 15, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Thin overcast in afternoon, clouds gradually thickened and lowered from NE & E by late afternoon to mountain top levels. A few snowflakes falling, but not even S--. Most remarkable was no wind, basically calm!
Snowpack
Most coverage at mid January in many years, maybe since '95 or '96. Snow covering willows was remarkably strong and very supportive. No collapses or whumpfing. Recent HN above TL (up to ~12300) had settled out to give ski penetration of only ~4". However, surface is still low density. Above 12300 some wind had created (in places) a thin 2-3" soft (4F) wind slab that sat on very soft (F-) low density dendrites and stellars. Experienced no fractures/shooting cracks; however, hand shear tests at >30º the slab would "pop" and slide off (Q1). This recent low density snow beneath the thin surface slab, could be a problematic weak layer for next storm, especially if winds caused some blowing snow.
Avalanche
No fresh or recent avalanches observed. Light was too flat to see evidence of older avalanches.