Front Range
AvalanchePaul Rogers · Jan 31, 2014 · Front Range
Weather
Virtually no wind and mild temps, approximately 25 degrees. In the morning thin clouds leading to warming via radiation. Around 11AM it started to snow lightly S-1. No blowing snow.
Snowpack
Toured to just above TL and did not go into high alpine. 50-60 cm of new snow in area toured, (denser than normal yet still good skiing), resting on Monday's storm snow. In general the new storm snow seemed to be bonding fairly well and observed little instability. Observed moderate settlement happening on Southerly aspects, yet on ENE aspects, less settlement and observed a few small loose sluffs on 35+ degree slopes and had a few minor whumps. Southerly aspects had a strong thick midpack resting on depth hoar near the ground. As we toured towards ENE & NE aspects the the strong mid-pack disappeared - foot pen to ground, with significantly more depth hoar. No recent wind-loading at/below TL. Observed minor wind-loading up high on top of Trelease. Saw a few old paths that are almost completely filled in.
Avalanche
A few small loose sluffs on ENE/NE aspects 35+ degree slopes.