Front Range
SnowpackMarkus beck · Jan 15, 2012 · Front Range
Weather
nice day, near/below 0C, few clouds, light WNW winds, none/light blosno at ridgetops.
Snowpack
Test profile- objective: recent windslab. CT2&6Q1, ECT14sudden pop. ~40cm Windslab 1F atop P/K 1.5cm suncrust with small facets on top and larger facets below, atop facets 2-3mm 4F/F. Encountered several minor collapsing in isolated areas though 2 major collapses on a NNE and ENE face 37dgr small slope. An adjacent slope test (ski cuts on 37dgr slope) did not yield either more collapsing nor fracturing. Summary 3 day field obs: At TL, especially BTL, we have a shallow, very weak snowpack consisting mostly of faceted snow layers 4F to F. Isolated old persistent windslab near base 1F, and on S slopes a suncrust of 0.5-3cm 1F-K. While very weak, the snowpack appears not to have much energy except in isolated, specific areas (very steep slopes where the recent windslab is 1ft or more thick, especially if a suncrust around midpack or hard old windslab near base is present. Propagation is limited and would result in small to mid size soft slabs. ATL, the snowpack is more variable depending on aspect though common theme is the very weak foundation on which sit 2-4 layers of harder (1F to P) windslab. These are reactive in isolated, specific areas (very steep slopes below ridges, near rocks, gullies). Propagation seems limited as well resulting in mid size hard slabs.