Front Range
AvalancheBrian Gardel · Mar 21, 2020 · Front Range
Weather
Full sun with moderate to strong ridgetop winds from the SSW in the morning giving way to calm overcast skies and snowfall by mid/late afternoon. HN48 8-15" depending on aspect and elevation.
Snowpack
In the Alpine: HS generally >200cm with HN 30-45cm sitting on a variety of surfaces depending on aspect. Most notable was a thick layer of graupel at the old/new interface in the aprons producing moderate sudden planar results (ECTP16 SP @ 45cm on graupel layer, 11800 NE aspect). Noted some melt-freeze/facet combos on solar aspects with easy to moderate results below Paradise bowl (CT12 SC @ 30cm below melt-freeze layer, 11000 ESE aspect). We did not observe any cracking or collapsing.
Avalanche
Witnessed multiple small wet loose avalanches in all the steep solar couloirs. One small slab ~40cm deep releasing on presumed graupel layer in the apron of the Breakfast Couloir, likely in past 12-24hrs. Numerous recent small shallow dry loose releasing on steep shaded aspects within the storm snow.