2009/10 Snowy Range snow conditions
- Thread starter Himark
- Start date
No new since the weekend, but calling for some today into tomorrow. It was snowing lightly at the house when we left this morn, we're at DIA picking up the Redheads mom. Hard to see the Snowy's from here.
So you now have two redheads
So you now have two redheads
'fraid so. Well, kinda.
T
treehunter
Well-known member
pictures taken off trail N-O
R
rickster
Member
Snowies have got it!
Thursday-March 11. Was on the mountain today and the snow was excellent, visibility not so good. We pushed pow over the hood all day. Windy and snowing all day with flat light and very poor visibility. My daughter dropped her 05 Rev into a creek due to poort light. Many thanks to three fellow Nebraska riders for helping to get it out.
As soon as it clears the riding is going to be a 10+. Hopefully the pics will load. The first one is the hole my daughter was in. She was a little to upset to take it with the Rev still in there on it's side. If it had been me there would be a number of pics! You had to stand inorder to see anything as the pow was over your head if seated. Bring on the sun and bring on the fun!
rickster
Thursday-March 11. Was on the mountain today and the snow was excellent, visibility not so good. We pushed pow over the hood all day. Windy and snowing all day with flat light and very poor visibility. My daughter dropped her 05 Rev into a creek due to poort light. Many thanks to three fellow Nebraska riders for helping to get it out.
As soon as it clears the riding is going to be a 10+. Hopefully the pics will load. The first one is the hole my daughter was in. She was a little to upset to take it with the Rev still in there on it's side. If it had been me there would be a number of pics! You had to stand inorder to see anything as the pow was over your head if seated. Bring on the sun and bring on the fun!
rickster
A must do this weekend.
Snowy Range Snowmobile Club Signature Drive
Support a Green Rock Parking Lot
Members of Snowy Range Snowmobile Club will be collecting signatures on Saturday (13th) and Sunday (14th) at Green Rock in support of the forest services plan to study and build a parking lot near Green Rock.
Several weeks ago during the Murf the Surf’s Cross Country Ski Poker Run in Centennial, it was reported that 366 signatures were gathered against the proposed parking lot. We need to show we have just as many or more supporters.
So please take a moment, stop and say hi, we need your support.
If you would like to help out or if you would like to help collect from your location email me at
wyormk@gmail.com and we'll get you the information.
Snowy Range Snowmobile Club Signature Drive
Support a Green Rock Parking Lot
Members of Snowy Range Snowmobile Club will be collecting signatures on Saturday (13th) and Sunday (14th) at Green Rock in support of the forest services plan to study and build a parking lot near Green Rock.
Several weeks ago during the Murf the Surf’s Cross Country Ski Poker Run in Centennial, it was reported that 366 signatures were gathered against the proposed parking lot. We need to show we have just as many or more supporters.
So please take a moment, stop and say hi, we need your support.
If you would like to help out or if you would like to help collect from your location email me at
wyormk@gmail.com and we'll get you the information.
H
HappyJack
Well-known member
Avy Forecast 3.12.X
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast for Front Range
Issued 03/12/2010 8:07 AM by Simon Trautman
Highlights
Snowfall stopped, but winds increased from the north. New slabs have formed on E-S-W aspects up high. You will find pockets of drifted snow formed since Sunday, and some older drifts from the end of last week. They could be a problem on very steep slopes. As usual this winter, persistent weak layers near the ground keep deep slabs a possibility on the same steep slopes.
An avalanche fatality occurred on March 10, 2010 in the backcountry west of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. A male snowboarder triggered and was caught in an avalanche in Steep Gully #1. The victim died of trauma after being carried into a stand of trees at the terminus of the path. This is the fourth avalanche fatality in Colorado this season.
Avalanche Danger
In the Front Range Zone the danger is CONSIDERABLE on steep E-S-W aspects near and above treeline where new snow has formed reactive wind slabs. There are pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger near and above treeline on NW-N-NE aspects, where windslabs formed Monday and Tuesday. Human triggered avalanches are probable on slopes steeper than 35 degrees where recent snow has drifted into stiff, variable slabs. Persistent weak layers near the ground keep deep slab avalanches a possibility on the same steep slopes.
The danger is MODERATE on all aspects below treeline.Human triggered avalanches remain possible.
Snow & Avalanche Discussion
It is still winter in the mountains. Continued cold temperatures, snow, and wind have not let our snowpack strengthen sufficiently. There have been four skier triggered avalanches across the state in the last 48 hours. All of these slides ran to the ground. One resulted in a fatality, one a partial burial that required partner rescue, and the other two sound like solid near misses. The snow is still cold, weak, and thin in many places. Don't let the mild spring weather cloud your judgment this weekend.
Snowfall tapered off on Thursday, but the wind has been strong form the NNW for the last 24 hours. The storm total was ~12" so there has been plenty of snow to move onto leeward aspects. Since Friday, winds have come from almost every direction. You will find soft to stiff slabs and drifts on most terrain near and above treeline, but with the overnight north winds be especially careful of E-S-W aspects.
Mild weather last week helped settle and strengthen the upper portion of the old snowpack. Stout, mostly supportable crusts were created on south and west aspects, many of these will now be covered with new wind slab at higher elevations. The upper snowpack in the alpine is highly variable, with multiple crossloaded layers. Thin, weak faceted layers are present on the southerly slopes under the recent wind slabs. On shady, or more northerly aspects, there are thicker layers of surface facets, or "recycled powder', below the newer snow. Recently loaded southern faces that did not have snow 3 days ago will be very reactive to human traffic.
Observers report that deeper weak layers above 12000' are still reactive. Recent storm cycles, regardless of snow amounts, have brought on avalanche cycles on these old, deep weak layers. Remotely triggered, human triggered, and natural avalanches have spiked upwards with just a little snow. Continue to play conservative. Triggered avalanches have the potential to be deep and large near and above treeline.
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast for Front Range
Issued 03/12/2010 8:07 AM by Simon Trautman
Highlights
Snowfall stopped, but winds increased from the north. New slabs have formed on E-S-W aspects up high. You will find pockets of drifted snow formed since Sunday, and some older drifts from the end of last week. They could be a problem on very steep slopes. As usual this winter, persistent weak layers near the ground keep deep slabs a possibility on the same steep slopes.
An avalanche fatality occurred on March 10, 2010 in the backcountry west of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. A male snowboarder triggered and was caught in an avalanche in Steep Gully #1. The victim died of trauma after being carried into a stand of trees at the terminus of the path. This is the fourth avalanche fatality in Colorado this season.
Avalanche Danger
In the Front Range Zone the danger is CONSIDERABLE on steep E-S-W aspects near and above treeline where new snow has formed reactive wind slabs. There are pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger near and above treeline on NW-N-NE aspects, where windslabs formed Monday and Tuesday. Human triggered avalanches are probable on slopes steeper than 35 degrees where recent snow has drifted into stiff, variable slabs. Persistent weak layers near the ground keep deep slab avalanches a possibility on the same steep slopes.
The danger is MODERATE on all aspects below treeline.Human triggered avalanches remain possible.
Snow & Avalanche Discussion
It is still winter in the mountains. Continued cold temperatures, snow, and wind have not let our snowpack strengthen sufficiently. There have been four skier triggered avalanches across the state in the last 48 hours. All of these slides ran to the ground. One resulted in a fatality, one a partial burial that required partner rescue, and the other two sound like solid near misses. The snow is still cold, weak, and thin in many places. Don't let the mild spring weather cloud your judgment this weekend.
Snowfall tapered off on Thursday, but the wind has been strong form the NNW for the last 24 hours. The storm total was ~12" so there has been plenty of snow to move onto leeward aspects. Since Friday, winds have come from almost every direction. You will find soft to stiff slabs and drifts on most terrain near and above treeline, but with the overnight north winds be especially careful of E-S-W aspects.
Mild weather last week helped settle and strengthen the upper portion of the old snowpack. Stout, mostly supportable crusts were created on south and west aspects, many of these will now be covered with new wind slab at higher elevations. The upper snowpack in the alpine is highly variable, with multiple crossloaded layers. Thin, weak faceted layers are present on the southerly slopes under the recent wind slabs. On shady, or more northerly aspects, there are thicker layers of surface facets, or "recycled powder', below the newer snow. Recently loaded southern faces that did not have snow 3 days ago will be very reactive to human traffic.
Observers report that deeper weak layers above 12000' are still reactive. Recent storm cycles, regardless of snow amounts, have brought on avalanche cycles on these old, deep weak layers. Remotely triggered, human triggered, and natural avalanches have spiked upwards with just a little snow. Continue to play conservative. Triggered avalanches have the potential to be deep and large near and above treeline.
Anybody have any word on the current snow conditions? Thinking about heading ou tuesday night, not sure where we should go yet.
We just got back. We rode Sat, Sun and Monday. They need new snow but the riding was still good. A little hunting and you could find some fun stuff. Unfortunately, I also found a rock and it did in my A arm. No complaints though. It was on our last day, on the way home of my last trip out west for the year. Now it's time for repairs and a few mods.
On our way tomorrow for a fri sat ride. Dan if you want to get together either day let me know. There will be 4 of us on friday and 3 on saturday. Peace
Similar threads
