Front Range
AvalancheNick Barlow · Apr 11, 2018 · Front Range
Weather
Cloud cover for the first hour from the trail head, decreased to mostly-sunny skies for the rest of the day. Breezy and quite warm BTL, winds turned moderate and erratic NTL. Just ATL, winds were sustained moderate gusting strong to very strong out of the west. Around 1330, winds decreased rapidly for roughly 90 minutes, allowing me to move around and assess the snowpack. Temperatures N/ATL were warm, but the wind kept the snowpack relatively cool.
Snowpack
The first significant warmup for last weekend's big storm cycle. Settled storm totals were in the 40-60cm range. Observed dry/cold snow and snow still in the trees before noon. The snow warmed rapidly as sunshine broke through the clouds. Biggest concern at higher elevations was a lingering mid-cycle instability between Friday's storm snow and Saturday/Sunday's storm snow. Structure was slightly upside down, and ECTs propagated clean (but stubborn) on a layer of preserved, fluffy dendrites about 50cm down. Observed numerous rollerballs and dribbles from cliffs, but nothing bigger than D1 Loose Wet avalanches today.
Avalanche
Small Loose Wet/Wind Slab hybrids releasing off Current Creek Headwall. Evidence of older D1.5 avalanche that released mid-storm on SE aspect NTL.