Front Range
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Dec 31, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Clear and cold morning with valley temperatures near -30F in North Park. The winds were moderate near ridgelines, from the northwest, and banners of snow were evidence of snow transport.
Snowpack
On Cameron Pass the snowfall from Christmas has been redistributed by the winds into stiff slabs on north through east aspects. The near and above treeline slopes over 35 degrees on these aspects are most worrisome. Evidence of recent human triggered wind slab avalanches was seen as you broke treeline from the skin track. An older pencil hard melt-freeze crust, at 121cm, is surrounded by weaker snow and acting as a catalyst for avalanches. Less than a meter deep in the snowpack are the facet and depth hoar layers from the pre-Thanksgiving storms, which are stubborn to triggering. ECTX PST 64/100 @119 Arr CT17@121
Avalanche
Surface wind slab avalanches were observed on north through east aspects, in near and above treeline terrain. Two cornice fall avalanches near ridgelines on north diamond peak were seen.