Front Range

Snowpack

Mike Soucy · Jan 1, 2012 · Front Range

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Weather

Mostly sunny/partly cloudy, calm to moderate NW wind, temps in the upper 20's @ 10,000'.

Snowpack

Observed 9-10,000', N-E aspects near Eldora. Variable snowpack depending on elev and aspect, but overall very weak. Generally 50-100cm deep, comprised mainly of facets. Some of these guys are getting really large and stacking up on one another. Solar aspects have a variety of eroded melt-freeze crusts and shady aspects have some windslab. Snow below TL is completely faceted, making for some punchy and dangerous skiing. Above TL, the varied thickness in windslab seems to be the main concern. Totally supportive on one slope and breakable (trigger-able) right next door. Testing seems to provide little in the way of info due to this variability as well as the super weak snow underneath.