Front Range
SnowpackZach Taylor · Apr 27, 2013 · Front Range
Weather
Sunny and breezy above treeline. It was a little chilly above 12,500' today with the wind chill. It warmed up quickly when we got low enough to not be impacted by the cool breeze.
Snowpack
Snowpack below 12,500' was crusted over from previous day's melt freeze cycles in the morning and became water saturated and wet with the afternoon. Above 12,500' cooler temps and a cool breeze kept the snow cold all day with no real warming on the western aspects we traveled. Snow surface above 12,500' varied between hard slab, wind crust,and some softer decomposing snow in isolated pockets. No signs of instability but we did not really go near anything resembling avalanche terrain either. Standing on the summit of Mt. Bierstadt provided a 360 degree view of the Front Range. I looked for any recent avalanche activity and did not observe any, on any aspects visible from the summit.