Front Range

Snowpack

William Flottman · Apr 14, 2011 · Front Range

Weather

Winds were low (~10mph) in most areas but strong (~30mph) in open areas (such as crossing dream lake). Snowed all day. Viability was decent below 10.5k. We could not see above treeline but it seemed to be snowing and blowing hard.

Snowpack

Found 14-18in of new snow in the area and was still snowing at 3pm when we left. Traveled on NE-E-SE aspects and found new snow poorly bonded to the unconsolidated rounds below. The new snow readily sloughed off of any steep slopes when ski cut. It seems the sun crust/slush layer below the storm snow did not freeze at all before this storm and while we did not dig to the ground we did find at least a 3ft layer unconsolidated rounds. I don't know what to select for "collapsing" below but we punched through to wait deep without skis on.