Front Range
AvalancheIan Fowler · May 20, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Light snow all day S1 with periods of higher snowfall. Winds were light and swirly alternating between east and west frequently.
Snowpack
Below treeline, the snow coverage is patchy with deepest areas on shaded slopes or those packed by the wind or feet. At treeline, there was still a deep snowpack in areas that collect snow, gullies, and shaded areas. The height of new snow was about 20-30cm (1foot) and was poorly bonded to a melt-freeze crust below. The surface was already starting to form a thin wind skin that was supportive enough to slide independently on shovel tilt tests and hand shears. On a northerly aspect 60cm down (2 feet) there is a dust layer that has turned into facets, which are now rounding and are reactive in compression tests. The top meter of the snowpack below the new snow was moist grains.
Avalanche
No new avalanches were observed there was a lot of older debris that had come out of south-facing terrain.