Front Range
AvalancheZach Taylor · Feb 9, 2015 · Front Range
Weather
Sunny, warm, mild wind at higher elevations.
Snowpack
An interesting snowpack. It seems to have elements of both spring and winter. One good whump was noted while descending the SE slopes of Hidden Knoll. No cracking was observed on today's tour.
Avalanche
One avalanche approximately D2-R3 slide on an east facing aspect above treeline between the No Name headwall and Stanley Peak was noted. It was very fresh, seemed to have run in the midpack, just below a cornice on a pretty steep slope. No tracks going in so it looked natural to me from a distance. Interestingly I also noted tracks at the exact same elevation and aspect gutting the No Name headwall that were also fresh. Fewer people seem to be out with the lack of recent snow but it seems that those that are getting out are venturing out onto bigger terrain and the recent avalanche activity and whumping observed today makes me question the safety of the snowpack still. A scary moderate avalanche hazard rating with the somewhat low probability but high enough consequence to kill avalanche problem seems to have been and probably will continue to be our avalanche problem in the Front Range.