Front Range
AvalancheAndrew McWilliams · Feb 9, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Broken skies with light snowfall that did not accumulate while we were in the field. Winds were light from the west and the temperature was in the teens.
Snowpack
I did not observe any cracking or collapsing on my ascent and I only noted a few small loose avalanches in the most recent snow. I traveled on sheltered north through east-facing slopes near and below treeline and I did not find the buried surface hoar layer that has been noted in many other areas of the Northern Mountains. There was a layer of softer, faceted snow below a stiffer slab where I looked on more northerly slopes about 30cm below the surface. On easterly slopes at this depth, there was a 1-2cm crust with faceted snow below it. On a more wind-affected northeast slope near treeline, I found the same layer of faceted grains about 30-40cm from the surface. While this is my primary layer of concern in this area, it was not very reactive in snowpit tests. I got a non-propagating result in an Extended Column Test (ECT) and a result to end in a Propagation Saw Test, but after a cut length of 69cm in a 100cm block. Of note was a propagating result on the last tap from the shoulder in an ECT in the depth hoar layer. While you are not likely to trigger an avalanche at this depth, it suggests the height of snow is not quite deep enough yet to where you cannot affect this layer.
Avalanche
I saw a few of these small loose avalanches running within the most recent snow on easterly slopes.