Front Range
AvalancheTara Vessella · Dec 1, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
~10,00feet: Winds 12-15mph sustained shifting between South and West all day. Gusts to 30 mph.Temps 22-30F depending on location. Sky: CLR. Some occasional visible blowing snow above 11,000ft...not much snow left above tree line on broad features, numerous aspects.
Snowpack
Extremely variable snow w/ lots of down trees on summer trails. Wind effected snow on all aspects NTL and BTL. Surface varies between soft wind slab and hard, hollow supportive snow. Wind drifted snow features widespread in terrain. Surface cracking from skier weight in a variety of locations. NTL and BTL elevations now have all the snow now. Leeward high elevation gullies and terrain features have retained some snow, but stripped elsewhere. See Snow Profile for NE aspect just below Lake Haiyaha summer trail. WEAK interface on northerly aspects between recent storm snow and Oct faceted layer (inverted snowpack here). Test block where jumping of columns with speed with light forces. See PST Video
Avalanche
2 Natural avalanches observed on NE aspect of Otis Peak about 10,800ft likely from last 24 hrs and wind loading. Both were mid path fractures. Visible crowns from Lake Haiyaha with debris partially blown over. See photos. ~GPS: 40.2998, -105.6630