Front Range
AvalancheIan Fowler · Dec 17, 2023 · Front Range
Snowpack
Generally, there is no slab below the treeline apart from obviously wind-loaded areas. Where I was able to get one small collapse. At the top of the lost lake chutes dug in the northeasterly and northerly aspects of the start zone. The northeasterly side was thin about 30-40cm deep from just a little sun exposure. This side had no slab and Extended Column Tests just punched right through the column beneath the shovel. 10 meters away on a more northerly aspect, there was 70-80cm of snow and a slab that gave easy test results. This was a very isolated area but a great example of spatial variability. Southerly and southeasterly aspects are developing a suncrust.
Avalanche
This was an old crown probably from the December 9th Storm. This was at the top of the roll on "Homeboy" before the traverse to the ski area.