Front Range

Snowpack

Spencer Logan · May 9, 2010 · Front Range

View on map

Weather

Gusty ridgetop winds from WNW. Minor transport, with tracks from previous day drifted with 2-3 cm of snow. Got HOT out of the wind.

Snowpack

  • Recent snow moist to wet, depending on sun exposure. Once wet, slid easily on the hard snirt/old snow surface on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.
  • On N aspects above treeline, the recent snow was about 15 cm of creamy powder that was just becoming moist.
  • Snirt layer remained supportable until noon near and above treeline.
  • No signs of instability under the snirt. Moist, poorly bonded rounds were the predominate grain, but no planar failures
  • Below treeline, snowpack is moist to wet large, rounded grains. Little to no layering remains.