Front Range
SnowpackIan Fowler · Dec 6, 2023 · Front Range
Weather
It was a very warm day with no wind.
Snowpack
Below the treeline, the snowpack was mostly faceted from top to bottom, and ski penetration went to the ground. On northwesterly and westerly aspects near the tree line, the snow was very talkative, with frequent collapses and cracking. The snow height of about 50cm collapsed easily on ECTs. It is a narrow band between no slab and no snow, but it seems like this aspect will stay sensitive with a thin snow cover. Above the treeline, these aspects were blown to dirt. On southeasterly aspects, the snow was a little deeper, 60-90cm, as the recent storm winds had drifted snow there. We found a stiff slab with weak snow at the base and moderate ECT results. The coverage was still fairly spotty on this aspect, but areas with more continuous wind-drifted snow, I think, would have this thicker slab. Most aspects had surface hoar and mixed facets especially on shady slopes. But by the end of the day, easterly had developed a little zipper sun crust.