Front Range
SnowpackColin Mitchell · Dec 16, 2012 · Front Range
Weather
Breezy and cold with blowing snow and snow showers all day, some showers were heavy. Low visibility.
Snowpack
The snowpack remains thin, variable and very reactive. Widespread hard slab formation encountered. The slab is thin below treeline (10-15 cm) but thickens substantially to 30-50 cm as one moves into more exposed terrain. In wind loaded, and/or shady areas, this slab is perched on top of a very weak basal layer of 3mm depth hoar. This old snow layer is very reactive. Rumbling collapses and shooting cracks were common anywhere the old snow layer existed, and we found it to be widespread on all aspects traveled. These cracks went all the way to the ground. Reactive test slopes were found on all aspects traveled. Collapses were propagating pretty far, and in one notable instance, went uphill at least 150'.