Front Range
SnowpackPaul Rogers · Feb 10, 2014 · Front Range
Weather
Below TL temps were mild around 25 F. Above TL cooler in the mid-upper teens. Winds at and above TL from the NW around 25 mph. Observed significant wind transport above TL loading on SE and E aspects. Saw intermittent periods of fairly intense snowfall (S1) yet overall average rate was S-1. Very low viz above TL.
Snowpack
Did not go too high above TL, due to poor viz and winds so limited observations in the high alpine. Getting pretty deep up in Current Creek ranging from 175-200+cm in many areas measured. 25cm of low density new snow from previous night resting on previous storm snow - Fist to 4F hardness. At and just above TL the new snow was just starting to stiffen up from the winds - presume this was more pronounced in the high alpine. Tests, both snowpit and test slopes produced results on buried surface facets & crust/facet layer at the old interface from a few weeks ago and also on what appeared to be a density difference within the upper snowpack around 35-40cm down. Did observe step down into persistent layers in the mid-pack on 2 occasions. Small steep test slopes were touchy and producing results at/above TL.