Front Range

Snowpack

Anonymous · Feb 25, 2011 · Front Range

Weather

Snowing most of the afternoon, heavily at times, windy and gusty above treeline

Snowpack

8-10" new, with areas of 12"+ near treeline at 11,000' The new snow was light and fast in the trees and sluffing easily. A thin wind slab was developing in open areas near treeline, making the snow stiffen at the surface with minor cracking. Pit was 250 cm deep at 10,800' on a 28 deg slope in a forest opening. Top 25cm failed easily at 6 taps, followed by a couple layers at 35cm (10 taps) and 45cm (12 taps) crusty layer under last weekend's snow. With 30 + hard hits there was a fairly clean layer at 95 cm (surface facets from two weeks ago?). A few areas of shallow debris on the bench below the face of S. Diamond Peak - visibility was poor, but looked like small sluffs & point releases.