Front Range
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Apr 21, 2020 · Front Range
Weather
Scattered clouds and light west winds. Near freezing temperatures above treeline. After 1:00pm a spring storm rolled into the area with dark clouds and graupel precipitation ay a rate of S-1. No thunder was observed.
Snowpack
Below treeline and on all aspects, small loose and wet avalanches were occurring in the spring type snow conditions. As you near treeline and above, drier snow and a breakable melt-freeze crust existed on the surface. Previously wind transported snow was confined to soft pockets on leeward facing slopes and features. Localized cracking was observed in the drifted snow. On a north aspect above treeline the layer of concern was buried around 40cm deep. A layer of small (near-surface) facets lies just below a stiff melt-freeze crust. You can get this layer to fail with moderate force in compression tests but shows poor ability to propagate fractures(ECTX).
Avalanche
A small surface Wind Slab avalanche on steep terrain above treeline. Just below a corniced ridgeline a shallow slab of wind drifted snow released naturally.