Front Range
SnowpackJustin Swantek · Nov 12, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Calm, cold (10-20F), and clear with high clouds building throughout the day.
Snowpack
The last storm delivered roughly 3" that has been moved around very little since it fell. BTL has 1-2' of mostly unconsolidated snow with some larger grain facets (2-3 mm) buried under decomposing snow. Near and Above TL, South and West slopes are mostly clear with only a few wind slabs hanging about (no facets beneath). N-SE slopes are harboring considerably deeper wind slabs, but these are still relatively small because they are broken up by the terrain. Of the several hand pits I dug within 20 vert of the ridge-line, most of these slabs are not sitting on any facets. The exception is on more sheltered NE slopes where I found 2-3 mm buried facets. Because the slabs are so localized, skiing the E face was interesting. The deeper, older snow wind slabs are pencil hardness and edge-able whereas the newer snow wind slabs are only 1-2" thick and cannot support a rider - I suspect if there's no substantial winds to thicken these thinner slabs, both the slab and underlying decomposing snow will facet very fast.