Front Range
AvalancheAndy Nelson · Jan 15, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Sky was overcast and broken most of the day with sunshine present later in the day. Temperatures ranged from 17-28F throughout the day. Wind was calm to light. No precipitation.
Snowpack
Recent storm snow appears to still be settling with no major collapsing or cracking observed. Much more of a "slow compression" type of feeling when skinning. The entire Seven Utes Zone contained surface hoar from 9400' to the summit. Did not measure the size but it was present all over the place, especially in those clear areas, but also in the glades and trees too.
Avalanche
Observed the recent avalanche reported on PowderBuzz.com earlier in the week. This avalanche was triggered approximately between Jan 7-10. Exact date is unknown. I have included a picture illustrating the approximate locations of the crowns on both the N and E facing aspects. It is unknown if these were two separate avalanches, but it is also possible that the propagation ran across the N. Ridge line. It appears that the trigger was a large cornice fall.