Front Range

Avalanche

Henry Heyman · Jan 16, 2023 · Front Range

Weather

Weather was cold and windy to start the day at 9,000 ft in the open valley. Calm once we go into the middle boulder creek system. Lots of wind and evidence of wind loading at 10,000 ft on a N-S running ridge. Wind transport due to westerly winds, loading the east side of the ridge.

Snowpack

Snowpack had a high degree of spatial variability. On the ridge line height of snow ranged from 230 cm to 90 cm within 100 M area due to wind loading. Generally felt soft and not too much evidence of wind slap on either side. Dug a pit on an E facing slope at 10,100 ft on a 15 degree slope angle. Height of snow - 120 Basal facets up to 3 MM identified on ground layer (110 CM down), ranging from 4F to Fist hardness. New snow interface identified 40 CM down. Compression Test Results - CT11 Q2 on new snow interface 40 CM down, CT21 Q2 on basal facets 110 CM down.

Avalanche

None identified.