Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Feb 25, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Clear skies, moderate to strong winds with snow transport, temperatures in the 20s.
Snowpack
I observed wind effected snow throughout my tour that ranged from a thin wind skin on to impenetrable wind drifts on north and east aspects. Surface wind slabs varied between 1-10cm, and I experienced localized cracking on north and east aspects below treeline. I also found a surface melt freeze crust while ascending southerly aspects below treeline. I assessed weak layers higher in the snowpack on southeast and north aspects below treeline. A snow pit dug on southeast aspect below treeline revealed a 4F layer of decomposing and fragmented particles that was not reactive to Extended Column Tests (ECTs) or a Propagation Saw Test (PST), with results of ECTX and PST 100/100X@85cm. A snow pit dug on north aspect below treeline revealed a 1F layer 14cm thick in upper layer of snowpack. This was also not particularly reactive to ECTs or a Compression Test (CT) with results of ECTX x2 and CT25, Q2 @ 106cm (upper 1F layer). Both pits showed faceted layers near or at the bottom of the snowpack. Height of snow (HS) on north and northeast aspects below treeline near Banana Bowls ranged between 60-210+cm.