Front Range
SnowpackPaul Rogers · Mar 24, 2012 · Front Range
Weather
Temperatures in the mid-high 40's. Clear to Few for sky, until late afternoon when it became overcast. Winds out of the SW at 15 mph with a few gust up to 25-30 in isolated alpine areas. No blowing snow observed.
Snowpack
Toured 11,300 - 11,800 on E-NE Aspects. HS: Below TL 150cm, at 120cm, above 70-115cm where there was snow. Temps observed: Surf 0C, T20 -3.5 to -4.5. In general observed a mid & upper snowpack that was comprised of multiple slabs 20-30cm thick, ranging from Pencil to 4F with facet or facet crust combinations in between. Lower snowpack comprised of 2-4mm size depth hoar and extended 25-50cm above ground. Depth hoar very loose and unconsolidated. The crust/dust layer was 1cm below surface in the alpine while at or below TL it was 10cm down. We conducted a varity of field test and snowpit tests and had no results except for one CT/Hard, that went on ground. Snowpit on NE Aspect at 11,650, with HS of 112, revealed early stages of rounding in the upper snowpack but has not reached down to the depth hoar. The snow in the pit, was NOT moist or wet except at the surface where it was beginning to moisten. At/below TL warming was extending a bit deeper (20cm) into the snowpack. This is just a guess, but I believe that the warming has been gradual and over a long period of time and on these N'rly aspects above TL, the snowpack is (at the moment) gaining some strength. Yet, when the warming extends down to the depth hoar we could see activity on N'rly Alpine aspects. We say one loose slide on on NW aspect above Hells Half Acre starting from rocks/cliffs. That was the only instability sign we saw. In general the sunny aspects below TL are gone, above they are going quickly. N'rly a different story as indicated above. Going to be a short Spring ski season.