Front Range

Mostly scattered skies with temperatures above freezing near treeline, but strong southwest winds kept snow surfaces cool at these elevations, while below treeline surfaces became sticky in the afternoon. No new snow.

The height of snow on north and northeast slopes below and near treeline ranged from 110-170cm, with some wind loaded near treeline slopes holding 200cm. Even where the height of snow is closer to 110cm, the slab still consists of 30cm+ of 1-finger hard snow and is supportable to boot penetration. Where deeper, the slab consists of 50-60cm of 1-finger hard snow. The top 10-30cm of the snowpack is mostly fist-hard with a 1-2mm ice lens or crust beneath. This is not a problem now as the snow above is not cohesive enough to communicate a fracture, but something to keep an eye on. I saw no propagation in three extended column tests today, and did not even see fractures on the weak layer buried 60-90cm from the surface. In a propagation saw test, I did see propagation to the end of the block, but only after I ran the saw more than halfway through the weak layer (PST 60/100 End down 64cm).