Front Range

Avalanche

John Mackinnon · Jan 23, 2016 · Front Range

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Weather

Increasing high thin clouds throughout the day and mild temps. Calm below TL but I did see intermittent plumes of snow blowing off ridge-tops onto south and east facing slopes above TL.

Snowpack

East Aspect Below TL just south of Fox Mountain--HS 140 cm: I found the mid-January facet layer down 45 cm in a wind-exposed area below treeline.45 cm of 4F and 1F snow resting on ~10 cm of F hard buried surface facets. CTM (SC) x 2 & ECTP 20 x 1 on FC down 45 cm. Sunny slopes got moist and I observed crusts forming in the PM on east and southeast slopes below TL. I also observed minor cracking in areas where the wind had stiffened up the most recent storm snow.

Avalanche

N.O.