Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Feb 26, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Broken to overcast skies, intermittent light snowfall, moderate to strong winds with snow transport and temps in the 20s.
Snowpack
Southerly aspects below treeline near the trailhead had surface melt freeze crusts with occasional ice on the trail. As we moved to east and southeast aspects below treeline, melt freeze crusts continued in places in addition to wind effect that ranged from wind etched snow to breakable wind slabs. Localized cracking occurred on melt freeze crusts and wind slabs on east and southeast aspects. Snow transport from moderate to strong west winds persisted throughout the day. Snow pits dug on east and southeast aspects both revealed 4F layer of facets 30-40cm deep in the snowpack. In both pits this layer sat atop of P-K hard slabs, and east pit revealed 40cm of depth hoar. The 4F layer was more reactive on east aspect below treeline when Extended Column Tests (ECTs) were performed, with results of ECTP18@86cm and ECTP23@86cm. Height of snow (HS) on southeast aspects ranged from 80-160cm around 11,800ft with evidence of wind loading. Stability tests conducted on this aspect produced ECTN22 and PST 105/110 (End) @ 39cm, on the 4F facet layer.