Front Range

Snowpack

Justin Peacock · Apr 7, 2012 · Front Range

Weather

Sunny, clear, light NW winds. Cold enough temperatures that solar effects didn't really affect the snow surface.

Snowpack

Toured on the West side of the pass below Rush/Nitro then up and around to the north. Evidence of a hard freeze overnight. Sunny slopes weren't softening up much even around 2-3PM and the skiing was rough all day. Most of the snow surface was sun-affected and cupped, but isolated pockets have been wind loaded with newer snow and aren't sun-affected. Stress on isolated. They are stiff wind slabs about 20cm and weren't cracking, moderate hand shears. Not really an issue but could be interesting if we were to get any significant snow??? Dug on NE around 11,700. The top 50cm was mostly pencil-knife layers. Got a shovel shear on a dirt layer about 60cm down, but didn't react during CT. Got a CT26 Q2 on depth hoar at 155cm on the ground. I was a little surprised at how much it popped. Going out tomorrow again in the area and will send obs in again tomorrow night. -Justin