Front Range
SnowpackIan Fowler · Feb 17, 2023 · Front Range
Weather
Sunny day with blustery winds. Snow was blowing up high.
Snowpack
Snow depths varied from around 120cm (4ft) below treeline to +200cm (7ft) above treeline. Surfaces also varied, with southerlies BTL developing a sun crust that was very thin and not yet supportive, decomposing snow particles on easterlies and faceting on northerlies. Near and Above treeline the surface was very wind hammered, with sastrugi and a little drifting, but winds seemed to be blowing the snow away. Drifts I did find were not reactive to my skis or cornice drops. Above treeline the snowpack was mostly pencil hard or harder with just a couple of softer layers of old snow that were gaining strength.