Front Range
SnowpackJason Konigsberg · Feb 26, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Warm day. Winds weren't terrible and were only a nuisance at ridgetop.
Snowpack
We dug in several areas and overall found a strong snowpack averaging about 2 meters deep. Although the snowpack is relatively strong there are still some concerning weak layers, especially on southeast-facing slopes. We found a thin layer of facets over a crust buried 45 cm from the surface that produced repeatable ECTP results with moderate force. This was the only slope we got propagating results in an ECT. On east-facing slopes near to above treeline we did not find the crust and without the crust ECTs did not propagate. East-facing slopes above treeline have multiple wind-drifted slabs over thin layers of facets but none of these setups seemed reactive. On a northeast-facing slope near to below treeline we found a 190 cm deep snowpack with few weak layers of concern. Not even any results in the always-positive compression test.---Although we identified southeast-facing slopes to be the most concerning there are many easterly slopes near to above treeline that have been recently heavily wind loaded. Those slopes would be concerning as well and ones that we would avoid.---The snow surface became moist on all southerly slopes below treeline. On due south near treeline the snow surface was moist as well. Southeast-facing slopes fared better and many alpine slopes stayed cool with a steady wind.