Front Range
SnowpackChuck Bird · Jan 20, 2011 · Front Range
Weather
Clearing during the day with BLASTING wind all day. Cold, approx 15-20 F
Snowpack
We saw no natural activity but hasty pits revealed a heavy and reactive top windloaded layer of 10" or so on a foot of very low density snow. Didn't seem faceted or anything, just very light. We couldn't even isolate a column without having it just fall over. The shear was not clean, it just fell through the low density snow underneath. The high rating today seemed very appropriate. Nuclear winds transported an incredible amount of snow. Down in the trees had good stability but I swear the more open areas were wind pressed from when the wind shifted to from the east for a while yesterday afternoon(?) Super strange day. I also landed in the creek during the descent and can confirm that water is still quite wet. Hope this helps. Thanks for the good work! Take care chuck bird