Front Range
SnowpackIan Fowler · Jan 9, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
It was a beautiful but windy day which is very characteristic of this area of Colorado. There was a lot of blowing snow from the high peaks.
Snowpack
Snowpack was very varied at treeline with 70 cm on south east aspect and then 170cm on a more wind loaded east aspect. Any slopes near to ridgeline were totally stripped and anything with a hint of west also. Snowpack had a very weak base, strong wind pressed mid pack and soft surface. Test results indicated the weak layer at the base of the snowpack is still the primary problem. Isolated cracking around skis in wind drifted area. Below treeline the snowpack was still weak and thin about 50-60cm mostly fist hard snow.