Front Range

Quick report

Ryan Zarter · Jan 7, 2026 · Front Range

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Weather

SCT skies with moderate SW winds and stronger gusts. Blowing snow at ridgetop and in the valley bottom at times. Temps were in the mid to upper 20s.

Snowpack

I didn't observe any obvious signs of instability during my travels today. The upper couple of inches of the snowpack were starting to slab up near treeline in wind-exposed areas. Around more drifted terrain features, the slab was thicker--up to about 12" thick. The Christmas crust is now buried about a foot below the snow surface on average. I had ECTN results on facets just below the crust in my pit. The snow on due south-facing terrain below treeline was starting to settle where it was in the sun, though snow surfaces remained dry everywhere I traveled today.

Avalanche

The only fresh avalanche activity I saw today was one D1 slab just below the cornice/ridge on the Current Creek headwall.