CAIC Observation Report
SnowpackScott Toepfer ยท Oct 29, 2011
Weather
High thin clouds. Looked like there was a dust storm going on over the Sangre de Cristos. Temperatures fairly mild for the pass,(~11,500ft) 24 F when I started hiking at 10 am. Windy, as it always is on the pass, From about 12,800 ft & higher winds were very strong, moving some snow. Difficult to stand at the summit
Snowpack
Pretty consistent snow coverage, around ankle deep until above treeline on the hike up the west side of Boreas Mtn. Generally just facets. Some light drifting on to southerly aspects with recent North winds. Above treeline there were pockets of thicker wind slab, again on southerly aspects and cross loaded pockets. East aspects of Boreas had some rather big pillows forming. To the South & west on Silverheels same look.