Front Range
SnowpackIan Fowler · Nov 19, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Winds were strong from the northwest and snow was being actively moved. It was a very cold day.
Snowpack
In most areas there is not much slab development on the surface yet. Generally only a 4 finger slab. In areas that were more wind affected there were firmer slabs but these were fairly isolated. Below treeline it was generally all 4 finger hard or softer to the ground. Everywhere I observed there were facets developing at the ground that were small. In an easterly area I found a melt-freeze crust halfway down the snowpack. It is likely that this crust extends to southerly aspects and most likely thickens. The wind was actively loading while I was out and slabs were building mostly in the near treeline band. At higher elevations the snow seemed to be just blowing away.