Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Apr 22, 2024 · Front Range
Weather
Temps in the forties, broken skies, moderate west winds with strong gusts, snow transport observed at 12,000ft and higher, no precipitation.
Snowpack
I observed the snow from Saturday's storm was wet throughout my entire tour today. I was wringing water from the snow as I traveled from easterlies below treeline to northerlies near treeline. Warm temps persisted throughout the day and snow was mashed potato consistency and grabby on my ski out in the afternoon. I found wind effect on the new snow near treeline and firnspiegel on northeast aspect near treeline. The first snow pit I dug on northeast aspect near treeline with a height of snow (HS) of 100cm had an ice layer about 35cm down that my shovel could not penetrate through. On this aspect I found firnspiegel, the 4/20 snow wet and 4F to P hard, and a 9cm K+ hard wet snow over the ice layer. HS on northerlies near treeline ranged from 50-180cm with evidence of previous wind loading. Between 100cm and 70cm the snow temperature varied between 0C to -2C. The second snow pit was on a north aspect near treeline with HS 102, and I was able to dig 60cm down before hitting another ice layer. This pit revealed a snow structure of F+ wet new snow, P hard moist snow, 1F very wet layer, P+ very wet to moist snow and moist to dry K hard layer. Snow temperatures in this structure ranged from -1C to -4C. I observed several small D1 wet loose avalanches on east aspect above treeline on Little Matterhorn, and experienced minor, localized cracking on northerly wind drifted areas near treeline.