Front Range
SnowpackAmanda Loughlin · Jan 5, 2025 · Front Range
Weather
Light snowfall, moderate west winds with strong gusts and scattered to broken skies.
Snowpack
The snowpack below 10,000ft is still very thin and weak in this area, with a height of snow between 0-55cm. I found a combination of melt freeze crusts and facets skinning up southeast facing aspects below treeline. As I ascended to 9600 ft, I experienced one collapse off the skin track in a sheltered east aspect below treeline with a height of snow of 70cm. I also spotted one very small (less than D1) skier triggered avalanche on a boulder in this spot. Continuing up past 10,000ft, the height of snow ranged from 40- 105cm on east facing aspects. Snow here showed evidence of wind loading and snow pits revealed slabs of varying hardness over melt freeze crust/ facet combinations. On a sheltered east facing aspect, this structure produced moderate results on extended column tests on facets and depth hoar. As I continued ascending to an open east facing bowl, I experienced one other collapse. The second pit in this bowl had a firmer slab over the melt freeze crust/ facet combination that was more stubborn to extended column tests.