Front Range

Snowpack

Amanda Loughlin · Jan 27, 2024 · Front Range

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Weather

Clear, moderate southwest winds, temps in the 20s, no precipitation.

Snowpack

2-3 inches of new snow turning into melt freeze crust throughout the day. Localized cracking on southeast aspects and wind effect near treeline when looking northwest. A pit dug on southeast aspect below treeline revealed several melt freeze crusts between slabs. Extended Column Tests (ECTs) on southeast produced ECTX four times. A Propagation Saw Test (PST) produced PST 40/100 (End) indicating high propagation propensity. A pit dug on south aspect below treeline in a shaded area did not reveal melt freeze crusts, but fist hard facets in the middle of the snowpack sandwiched between pencil to 4 finger hard slabs. ECTs on south aspect produced ECTP25 and ECTP19 both at the faceted layer.