Front Range

Snowpack

Ian Fowler · Dec 8, 2025 · Front Range

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Weather

It was very windy from the east/southeast

Snowpack

On the northeast and east below the treeline and near the treeline, there was about 40-60cm of snow. This was generally three layers soft basal facets and wind-layer and soft drifted storm snow. The facets were, unfortunately, well developed. Near the treeline, I collapsed a large slope and observed this structure and had an easy failure on an Extended Column Test. Above treeline the snow was a little deeper and had already been very wind-affected into almost pencil hard slabs with very little new snow at the surface. Westerly slopes were completely stripped of snow above treeline and cornices were developing on the opposite side.