Manto nevoso

Front Range

Amanda LoughlinFront Range
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Weather

Light snowfall throughout the day, light to moderate winds, overcast skies. Pleasant Front Range weather.

Snowpack

While traveling in wind protected areas below treeline, I found 14 cm of new snow and the height of snow ranged from 40-85cm. As I ascended south aspects below treeline, I found a melt freeze crust underneath new and decomposing snow. Near treeline on east through south aspects, the height of snow varied between 30-165cm, with east aspects showing greater signs of loading. I experienced some cracking and collapsing traveling through willows near treeline, but did not notice this anywhere else. I dug two snowpits on east aspects near treeline; one in a more sheltered area and the other in a more exposed area. The height of snow and hardness of slabs varied, but the overall picture was the same: slabs are forming over weak basal layers.