Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin Ian Fowler · Dec 19, 2023 · Front Range
Weather
Mostly sunny, slight breeze and temps in the 30s.
Snowpack
The snow is still thin below treeline and in places near treeline. Snow near treeline was very wind affected; we found sastrugi in multiple places and areas completely stripped of snow. We did not experience any cracking or collapsing on our tour. The height of snow (HS) on our southeast near treeline snowpit was 85cm, which was not indicative of the surrounding area. In the area around the pit the HS was generally around 40cm with no detectable slab. Adjacent to our pit we experienced little to no ski and boot penetration (less than 2cm). In our pit we found mostly rounds and rounding facets with the exception of faceted snow at the bottom of the snowpack. Two Extended Column Tests (ECTs) produced results of ECTN11@82cm and ECTP30@15cm. Compression tests (CTs) produced CT2 sudden planar, CT12 sudden collapse, and CTV @82cm.