Front Range

Snowpack

Skied in the Bear Lake Area of Rocky Mountain National Park today. The forecast seemed to be right on. Thus far, storm totals were in the 12 inch range, with more as you approached the divide. We had several reports of large loose snow natural avalanches (1000+ ft long) running above treeline in the Emerald Lake area. Sounds like some poor travel decisions lead to a close call with one of the naturals. Below treeline the snowpack is still pretty unconsolidated. New snow was weak in compression (CTE Q3) on some kind of NSF layer, but tests would not yield any other failures, nor would the new snow propagate with the ECT. Skiers were charging some steeper lines and not getting anything more than a bit of sluff on short, steep pitches (>35). I could hear the winds beginning to pick up as I left the parking lot, so I'm sure that things will continue to change.