Southern Mountains

 This is Dale in the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at 3:15 pm,
 Tuesday, March 29, 2005.

 DISCUSSION

 The cold front has finally made its way across the mountains and
 brought varying amounts of new snow. Some sites were haves and some
 were have-nots. Generally a several inches has fallen in most sites,
 but Steamboat reported 7 this morning and the top of Grand Mesa, 16.
 Expect slight clearing this afternoon from west to east and early
 evening before high clouds move in ahead of next system. Expect light
 snows to develop around midnight. Best snows to fall during the day
 and convection will make for localized heavier amounts. Thursday will
 be cool with snow showers over the N&C mtns with NW flow. Expect a big
 warm up for Friday and Saturday as high pressure moves in.

 Southern Mountains

 Tue night: Mostly cloudy, light snow, 1-3". Winds increasing late
 NW/10-20 G40s. Lows 7-17.

 Wed: Cloudy, snow showers, 1-4". Winds W-NW/5-15 G25. Highs 15-25.
 Lows 5-15. May see below zero in Silverton.

 Thurs: Partly cloudy. Winds N/10-20 G30s decrs in aftn. Highs 15-25.

 SNOWPACK

 No wet snow problems for the next few days as cold temperatures
 smother the mountains and valleys. There will be a stout melt-freeze
 crust that may provide a slippery surface for new snows. This will
 become an avalanche problem when new snows reach more than about 6".

 For the next several days Winter-like conditions will exist in all
 mountain areas. The most suspect avalanche slopes will be the colder
 northerly aspects but also one must watch for fresh wind-drifted areas
 on easterly aspects.

 Since Saturday 38 avalanches have been reported from nearly all
 mountain areas. Most releases involved the recent storm snow from
 wind-loaded areas. Several releases in the Front Range and Tenmile
 Range involved older snow layers and some even stepped down to the
 ground. Watch out for both soft and hard slab conditions. Since Sunday
 collapsing snow has been reported from the Front Range and Tenmile
 Range, but also from near Crested Butte and from near Hope Lake near
 Ophir in the South.

 Though the calendar says Spring the snow cover is very Winter-like.

 Three significant weak layers persist in most mountain areas. The
 first layer consists of small faceted (sugar-like) grains buried 1-2
 feet. Second, are larger faceted grains buried in the middle of the
 pack. These two weak layers are prevalent in all mountain areas. The
 third weak layer are large facets/depth hoar buried near the ground.

 The depth hoar is still a problem in the Front, Tenmile, Mosquito, and
 Sawatch Ranges. Triggered releases from the bottom of steep slopes
 (compression area) are still possible in these mountain areas.

 In all mountain areas triggered releases are still possible to
 probable on steep slopes and gullies, and backcountry travelers should
 continue to use extra caution.. It is still a good idea to avoid steep
 and freshly wind-drifted slopes and gullies.

 The backcountry avalanche danger in the S mtns: Near and above
 treeline the danger is CONSIDERABLE on all aspects. Below treeline the
 danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on wind-drifted slopes
 35 degrees and steeper. Locally in the Wolf Creek Pass area: The
 danger is MODERATE near above treeline, generally LOW well below
 treeline. In the WCP area the upper weak layer is buried 2-3 feet
 down.

 Atkins