Front Range
AvalancheColin Wann · Jan 17, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Clear and calm down low in the late morning. Wind affected snow was observed ATL in specific areas. Light wind at treeline and gusty light wind above treeline by late morning. Comfortable temps, warm in the sun with enough radiation to produce signs of rapid warming on southerly aspects.
Snowpack
The new snow has settled significantly, and had begun to get blown around a little. Above treeline wind slab was forming to 6+ inches and broke loose on steeper terrain between switchbacks. These signs of developing instabilities were only observed in higher NTL/ATL elevations with BTL snow well preserved. Compression Tests failed at the ground with lots of "pop" and movement forward in a singular column of relatively hard snow.
Avalanche
I observed 2 small avalanches on ENE and NE aspects at 11,000ft that released late yesterday or last night. These slides contained chunks of hard snow and ran on old snow. There was a lot of debris released from above yesterday afternoon and more shedding on sunny aspects all afternoon today.