Front Range

Snowpack

NE facing aspect on 35 degree slope with slight cross loading. Noted 7 inches of heavy new snow resting on a smaller layer of lighter snow, with that layer resting on 8 inches of well-consolidated snow. This slab (overall about 17 inches) was on top a very weak,sugary layer. During tests, the new snow slab failed after two taps at the wrist. After digging a pit, the new snow slab failed immediately after a 180 pound skier step onto the isolated block. With one small bounce on the same block, the snow failed down to the weak buried layer, creating a 17 inch slab. During travels that day, we noted numerous whumping and setting sounds, especially on south east and south facing aspects. On slope angles that we skied (28 degrees) we created cracks and small amounts of movement in the first layer of new snow on an east facing aspect.=