Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Apr 16, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Light snowfall, overcast, humid, strong to extreme west winds with snow transport becoming northwest in the afternoon, temps in the high 20s low 30s.
Snowpack
Height of snow (HS) near the trailhead ranged from 0-50cm and was saturated. While skinning up easterly aspects, the height of storm snow (HST) varied from 10-22cm and was bonding well to old snow. HS above 10,500ft ranged from 150-250cm and HST was up to 25cm in less wind effected areas. The first snow pit dug a meter down on southeast aspect with HS 165 revealed over 20cm of wind-broken precipitation particles, rounded polycrystals K-4F in hardness, ice, and clustered rounded grains. This structure was not reactive to extended column tests (ECTs) and produced ECTX. A compression test (CT) produced result of CT11 @ ↓20cm (RP) on wind-broken precipitation particles. The second snow pit dug on northeast aspect below treeline with HS of 160 revealed 15cm of precipitation particles and decomposing and fragmented particles over rounded polycrystals ranging from 1F to K hardness, ice, and 39cm of wet depth hoar. This structure also produced ECTX and CT25 @↓15cm (PC) on decomposing and fragmented particles. We did not observe any avalanches or collapsing.