Front Range
SnowpackNick Barlow · Dec 28, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Warm and calm for first few hours during afternoon. WNW winds steadily increased over the next few hours, blowing moderate to strong A/NTL. Active wind loading and ridge top pluming observed.
Snowpack
I traveled on N/NE/E-facing slopes at all elevation bands. I did not gain higher ridges and peaks ATL, but had good visibility of nearby high-alpine terrain. There was 20-40cm recent storm snow BTL on the sheltered skin track. Significant snow in the trees was evidence of light winds at lower elevations. NTL, the snow surface quickly became wind affected and much thinner. Deep wind-loaded pockets were evident on N/NE aspects (e.g. snow profile), but many slopes have little storm snow remaining due to winds. Observed a weak layer of preserved stellars buried 20-30cm down, which I found on most slopes. Basal facets and poor structure observed everywhere I dug, but overlying slab still not a burden. Minor cracking and little evidence of avalanches.