Front Range
SnowpackIan Fowler · Feb 1, 2023 · Front Range
Weather
Sunny day with light south-westerly winds. There was very little blowing snow, even at 13,000ft.
Snowpack
The snowpack varied greatly dependent on height. Below treeline, the snowpack was mostly composed of facets, and foot penetration to the ground is a good indicator that there is not much slab development. Very weak snow but not much slab to propagate a slide widely. Near treeline was the most concerning structure on a southerly aspect. Snow depths around 80 to 100cm are a good depth for triggering avalanches, and the basal weak layer had the most developed depth hoar I have seen this year. The slab in the middle of the snowpack is only about 30cm thick and enough to transmit a failure in Extended Column Tests. Above the treeline, we found about 120 to 150cm of snow, and the wind has worked the snow well. The midpack was a strong pencil hard slab with depth hoar beneath gaining strength.