Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Dec 15, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Very windy, blowing snow, overcast becoming broken skies in the afternoon.
Snowpack
Traveling below treeline, I found a height of snow that varied between 0-104cm depending on the aspect. A colleague traveling in this area below treeline on 11/14 found a height of snow 30-50cm. The wind had made its presence known, as I dug two hasty pits on east and north aspects, and both were F hard top to bottom. They were also both composed of wind broken precip particles, decomposing and faceted grains. The north hasty pit showed signs of developing a soft slab about 10cm thick above facets. Below treeline, I didn't experience any cracking or collapsing when skinning off trail. Near and above treeline were a different story. I found a variety of wind effect including impenetrable surface wind slabs, a thin wind skin, sastrugi, and breakable surface wind slabs on north, east, and south aspects. West aspects were mostly stripped of snow above treeline. I experienced localized cracking while traveling on northerly aspects near treeline. A snowpit dug on the same aspect and elevation as a colleague's pit on 11/14 indicated the snow here has seen changes in the past month. On north aspect at 11.500ft with a height of snow of 60cm, he found decomposing fragments, facets, 22cm of rounds, a 2cm melt freeze crust and basal facets. Today with a height of snow of 82cm, I found wind broken precip particles, decomposing fragments, buried surface hoar, facets, 17cm of rounds, and 42cm of rounding facets. This structure produced minor propagation with extended column and compression tests, although all occurred between 66-70cm on surface hoar and facets.