Front Range
AvalancheBen White · Jan 26, 2014 · Front Range
Weather
Sunny, light and variable winds. Minimal snow transportation. Daytime high at 11,000'=27 F.
Snowpack
Highly variable snowpack. Well-shaded, wind-protected aspects (especially North-NE) remained soft and cold. Ski pen=6". Anywhere with any exposure to wind was variable density hard slab and/or sun crust if exposed to direct sunlight . Observed large drifts in leeward micro-features, perhaps in excess of 30' deep. Some of these drifts that were located in steep terrain appear to have fractured onto often bare slopes below leaving isolated, extremely large crowns visible. Much bare ground was also observed below, near and above treeline. Anywhere with wind exposure(N-W-S) appears to have been stripped bare during the prolonged wind event during the second week of January. Above and near treeline: Observed several R2-3 avalanches above treeline, primarily on wind-loaded Easterly aspects. Crowns were located high in starting zones and had propagated significant distances (approx. 500-1000ft wide). One large crown (15+ ft?) was observed in extremely steep, east facing terrain on the continental divide above Bob Lake. This slide appeared to have failed on the ground, an extremely steep largely rocky face. Below treeline: Observed a slide adjacent to the Woodland Lake trail on an easterly aspect at 10,400'. Aspect received lots of direct sunlight and had a relatively thin snowpack. Appears to have broke to the ground in one small rocky pocket, failing elsewhere about 12-18" above the ground. Approx. 200' wide, with debris running less than 100' vertical to a lower angled terrain feature above the drainage. In a steep, moderately tree-covered NE face at 10,000-11,000 ft., observed several crowns in the steeper rolls within this terrain feature. This terrain feature is otherwise enticing ski terrain that separates Woodland Creek from Jasper Creek drainages. Opted to avoid this face entirely due to it's "spooky" nature. Complex terrain with many apparent trigger points, cliffs and terrain traps. Would be easy to get lured into this right now as the elevation and aspect present the only good skiing in this area at the moment. General comments: The "money zone" appears to be moderate, gladed terrain between 11,000 and 9,500 ft. Below 9,500' the snowpack is often approaching too thin to ski. Most terrain above treeline is either stripped bare or deep windslab, likely resting on the much-referenced persistent and/or deep persistent weaknesses. Carefully managing terrain choices even below treeline has been key as safe skiing in steep trees would require a highly developed knowledge of micro-terrain features, bed surface, and trigger points.
Avalanche
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