Front Range

Snowpack

Richard/Ben Peterson/White · Nov 28, 2013 · Front Range

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Weather

Beautiful, almost windless day. Quite warm at Red Rock TH in the morning, but stayed below freezing from Left Hand Reservoir and above. Sun was very warm but did not seem to effect the snow much.

Snowpack

Dug pit on E slope at 10,800 above Left Hand Reservoir - near treeline. Facets up to 30cm, 3cm ice crust, 45cm of one-finger hard slab, 10cm of fist hard snow (new) snow, surface hoar in places from last night (burned off on E face). Compression test results - 5 full hits, failed on both sides of the ice crust. Overall, some whumpfing near treeline on windloaded slopes. Still very shallow in most areas and finding good skiing took some sleuthing...but it was out there.