Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Apr 2, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Clear to few skies, moderate to strong west winds with snow transport, temps in the high 20s lows 30s.
Snowpack
I observed consistently changing snow conditions either from wind or sun throughout my tour. Between the parking lot and 34, height of snow (HS) ranged from 0-95cm. The first snow pit was dug on a southeast aspect at 10,590ft where the HS was 175cm. Digging 115cm down, I found a snow structure comprised of warming new snow, MFcr, facets, another MFcr, 1F hard slab, K-P hard slabs that included the dust layer, another 1F layer on top of a P hard slab. This structure was not reactive to compression tests (CTs), produced two CTNs, and was moist to wet on all layers I discovered. As I traveled to easterly aspects near treeline, the snow was deeper and more noticeably wind effected with everything from a thin wind skin to sastrugi and impenetrable wind slabs. The second snow pit dug 115cm down on this aspect with HS 215cm was not as wet. This aspect revealed a snow structure of a surface MFcr over a small 1F layer, over facets, another MFcr, more facets and 4F layer, a large P hard slab containing the dust layer, and 1F hard layer below. This structure did yield results on CTs producing CT12 @↓15cm (RP) on F/1F interface and CT @↓28cm (SC) on facets on the first test, and CT10 @↓15cm (SC) and CT11 @↓30cm (SC) on the second. As I began to ascend the ridgeline between Hidden and Hanging Valley, I noticed sastrugi on east aspect and snow was stripped at the top where the wind was at its strongest today. Continuing to north aspects, the snowpack was thinner. My third snow pit was dug on north aspect at 11,360ft with HS of 129cm, where I found a weaker snow structure. Here I found multiple F hard layers, sandwiched between 1F layers, and a P hard layer containing the dust layer buried about 80cm down. I conducted two CTs here as well, with results of CT25 @↓42cm (SC) on F layer and the second test CT3 @↓37cm (SC) also on this layer.