Front Range
SnowpackEric Tollund · Feb 20, 2013 · Front Range
Weather
Breezy conditions, especially at ridgelines with blowing snow visible from below. Light to moderate gusts felt in the valleys. Generally overcast skies with occasional breaks of blue sky and sun. No precipitation.
Snowpack
A full profile pit had been done just three days ago on a similar aspect revealing persistent deep instabilities and significant wind loading. However, ECT produced no results. Only upon prying column out with shovel blade following test did failure occur and this was catastrophic, on the prominent depth hoar layer approx. 20 cm up from ground. Observations from today showed solar influence resulting in some sun crust and bottomless snow conditions in the skin track where the sun has had an influence in the trees.