Front Range

Avalanche

Thorley Thompson · Jan 13, 2018 · Front Range

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Weather

WNW moderate winds throughout the day with moderate blowing snow. Increasing cloud cover throughout the day with obscured ridgetops. Temperatures remained steady in the 20's with 1 inch of new snow accumulation throughout the day.

Snowpack

We conducted various snow profiles near 9,900 feet on NE aspects East of Nymph Lake. Height of snow ranged from 105 cm to 170 cm. Snow profiles revealed new storm layer of 30-40 cm, with F hardness. Persistent weak layers were found in the mid to lower snow pack. Facet gains of 2-4 mm including DH grains in shallower locations were found at the basal layer. Performed 10+ CT tests ranging from moderate to hard results all fractured on the November/December crust facet combo. Areas of deeper snow likely wind affected was not as pronounced weak layer. In the 105 cm pit: CT SC Q2 down 85 cm, and ECTP 21 down 85 cm. Photo 0738 illustrates chained depth hoar from the bottom of this profile.

Avalanche

None observed