Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin Ryan Zarter · Dec 26, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Windy, overcast, light snow and active snow transport.
Snowpack
Below treeline, we found a height of snow (HS) roughly 50-60cm and ski penetration was 10-15cm. As we ascended near treeline, we noticed more obvious signs of wind effect and found a height of snow 5-105+cm. Near and above treeline, west aspects were stripped of snow and east-facing aspects were loaded. A ski cut on a steep, wind-loaded, and north-facing feature released a freshly formed slab. We did not observe cracking or collapsing anywhere else on our tour. A snowpit dug on a northeast aspect near treeline revealed a thin (HS 67cm) and weak snowpack composed of facets, decomposing fragments and depth hoar. Compression tests on this structure produced failures on the upper faceted layer (CT13, CT17, CT7). Efforts to isolate a column for extended column tests using probes and rope were ineffective as the probes were unable to stay in place due to largely faceted structure. Nearby on an east aspect, the snowpack told a slightly different story. The height of snow here was 105cm and the snowpack was composed of decomposing fragments, a 30cm pencil hard slab, facets, decomposing melt freeze crusts and depth hoar. An extended column test on this structure produced propagation below a very decomposed melt freeze crust (ECTP18).