Front Range
AvalancheRyan Zarter · Apr 16, 2021 · Front Range
Weather
Overcast skies throughout my time in the field, with at least light snowfall most of the day (S-1 with periods of S1). Winds were light with virtually no wind transport observed. Temperatures were in the teens. Hn of 8" (0.6" SWE) on our study plot stake around 11 a.m., with a 66" Hs. On my way out of the field at around 3 p.m. there were an aditional 2.5" on the interval board.
Snowpack
I travelled on north to east to south aspects below and near treeline. Today's storm snow was right side up and bonded well to the old snow surface. I observed no signs of instability in the new snow, with little evidence of storm or wind slab formation. Today's new snow sits on a new dust layer that arrived with the couple of inches of snow that fell by yesterday morning (4/15). On a north aspect below treeline near the 80, I found storm snow that was well bonded to the old snow surface, with no evidence of water moving through the snowpack prior to this most recent stormy period.
Avalanche
I saw several harmless dry loose avalanches out of steep, rocky areas, up to D0.5 in size. On steeper pieces of terrain I could get a small slough moving that was no wider than my skis.