Front Range
SnowpackPaul Rogers · Jan 29, 2012 · Front Range
Weather
In area toured at/below TL - Temp: 20-25F, Winds 15-20 WNW, Few Clouds. Ridge Top in AM lee aspects receiving moderate loading but decreased in PM, Light to no loading at/below TL. HS 80-100CM. New snow 10-15 cm from previous storm. Below TL things were warming up on S'rly aspects - took reading: Air -2.0C, TSurf -4.5C, T20 -8.0.
Snowpack
Observed an impressive natural avalanche around 12,000 on East aspect, headwall above Hidden Knoll, R2D3, with an estimated crown of 8 feet, indicating the load on lee aspects above TL is becoming too much for the pack to hold. In general: The wind has rapidly effected the recent storm snow. New storm snow has bee windblown and observed hardness ranging from Fist to 4F below TL, yet 1F in wind-affected areas and at TL, while above TL observed 1F to Pencil slab. On S'rly aspects slab sits on curst/facet layer 10-15cm down and was reactive with propagation on small test slopes. Also on S'rly aspects observed collapsing/rumbling with 50-75m collapse diameter on 5 occasions. New storm snow was not as reactive on E'rly aspects yet it rest on multiple slabs from previous storms that rest on large depth hoar. Skiing conditions not that great on S'rly aspects at below TL, but pretty good on E-N/sheltered aspects if you stay out of the heavy wind slab at/above TL.