Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Mar 3, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Light snowfall all day, temps in the teens, moderate to strong west wind with snow transport.
Snowpack
While ascending the trail on southerly aspects, I measured 5.5 inches of new snow over a 6cm melt freeze crust (MFcr) that was more melt than freeze at 9500ft. At 9700ft there was almost 7 inches of new snow over a fully frozen 4cm MFcr. At 10,100ft there was 8.5 inches of new snow over a 2cm MFcr. I experienced cracking on southerly aspects on the new snow and MFcr below 9700ft. I did not see any avalanches and experienced one large collapse on northeast aspect below treeline. A snow pit dug on northeast aspect below treeline with a height of snow (HS) of 136 revealed a heavily faceted snowpack. I found new snow over decomposing and fragmented particles, over facets, rounds, then more facets and depth hoar. The first extended column test (ECT) scored ECTX with no propagation. The second ECT scored ECTN22@95cm, on F hard decomposing and fragmented particles. A compression test (CT) scored CT19 (RP) at 85cm, on the same F hard layer. A snow pit dug on east aspect below treeline revealed 11 inches of new snow over a 1cm MFcr, facets, rounds, and rounding depth hoar. The first ECT produced result of ECTN30@95cm on facet layer and the second ECT did not propagate, thus scoring ECTX.