Manto nevoso

Front Range

Ian FowlerFront Range
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Weather

It felt like winter today with strong winds and lots of snow transport.

Snowpack

Below the treeline, there was a stout crust beneath about 4-6 inches of new soft snow. The new snow felt well bonded to the old surface. In steep terrain, we could get some small loose dry to move, but there was no slab formation. Near treeline there was intense wind transport. On some southeasterly aspects the surface was the old crust which was super strong and impenetrable to skis. On east and northeast there was about 6-10 inches of new and wind-drifted snow. This snow was cracking, and as I approached a steeper northeasterly slope, I was able to trigger a small wind-slab that ran on yesterday's storm snow. At this same location, I found the March 3 layer down about 2 feet (60cm). This layer had a firm 1 finger slab above. This layer failed on moderate blows and is the first time I have found it reactive on the east side of the Continental Divide.