Front Range

Snowpack

Amanda Loughlin · Apr 9, 2025 · Front Range

View on map
Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3Observation photo 4Observation photo 5Observation photo 6Observation photo 7Observation photo 8Observation photo 9Observation photo 10Observation photo 11

Weather

Warm, mostly sunny with moderate west winds, strong gusts and some snow transport observed above tree line.

Snowpack

Surface snow was completely refrozen this morning. As I ascended south facing trees around 10am, shaded places remained frozen and sunny spots quickly warmed. Below tree line on southeast and southwest aspects I found a snowpack of moist melt forms, including a 4F moist to wet layer, that was not reactive to extended column tests. This layer produced propagation on compression test at the 23rd tap. Near tree line on east and south aspects, the top 10cm of snow was moist to wet and snow below was dry to moist. Here I found melt freeze crusts and layers of rounding facets. When I skied out in the afternoon, I noticed some decent sized pinwheels next to the road below tree line likely from motorized activity.