Front Range

Snowpack

Charlie Ziskin · Mar 17, 2012 · Front Range

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Weather

Weather was partly cloudy, 47 degrees F with south wind gusting to 30 mph.

Snowpack

Snow on this east facing slope was highly variable. Top pitch was consolidated wind slab. As we approached the entrance to the narrow gap between rocks on skiers right and dry ground skiers left, the snow became less consolidated and deeper. It was obvious to me that the amount of liquid water in the snow was increasing as we descended. The crown of the avalanche was about 30 inches. She sliding snow quickly ran up over older snow, only to step down, then ride up again, repeating this pattern far down the slope.