Front Range

Skies were SCT to FEW, and temps were cold while I was in the field today, though the sun helped things to feel warmer than the thermometer suggested. Hn from last night ranged from 4-8", with some spots drifted closer to 12". Winds were still moving snow at ridgetop, though not as much as they had been earlier in the day.

There is still a reactive slab near treeline on northeast-facing slopes where I traveled today. As I stepped off my skis to dig, there was a slope-wide rumbling collapse. The snowpack was relatively shallow where I dug (just over 80cm), and I found a slab that was up to 1F in hardness sitting over depth hoar. ECTP 30 and PST 31/100 at the slab depth hoar interface 70cm below the surface. I was able to get a bit of cracking extending just past my skis on steep, recently drifted east-facing features near treeline, and I observed one other localized collapse on a small but steep north-facing terrain feature below treeline. North to northeast-facing slopes were cold and dry near and below treeline. On southeast-facing slopes below and near treeline, the sun was causing last night's snow to settle out pretty quickly, although the snow surface remained dry while I was travelling on this aspect. In the flats on the valley bottom and on my way back to the truck, the snow was starting to get sticky, though it wasn't quite moist yet.