As in other areas in the Front Range, we found a thin snowpack. Lefthand Reservoir is a notoriously windy location and today was no exception. Evidence of wind effect was present in areas we viewed near and above treeline, especially next to the reservoir in vegetated areas. In sheltered northerly areas below and near treeline, the snowpack was thin and faceting. Any avalanche danger to be found in this area is likely in cross loaded gullies and isolated features.

Lefthand Reservoir, Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

From the winter trailhead, we skinned up Lefthand Reservoir Road to northerly aspects near treeline off Niwot Ridge and descended the same route.

A thin and variable snowpack was found in this area. A hand shear on north aspect below treeline at 10,670 feet depicted 30cm of faceted snow, top to bottom. Next to the reservoir, the height of snow varied between 0-120cm. The deepest areas here were thick wind drifts in dense alpine vegetation. Below treeline around 10,800 feet, the height of snow ranged between 60-80cm with surface conditions including facets, breakable wind slabs and impenetrable slabs. As we ascended near treeline on northerly aspects, snow was nonexistent in places. We noticed surface snow conditions again varying from breakable wind slabs, a thin wind skin, impenetrable slabs and small surface hoar in protected pockets. I dug a snowpit on similar aspect and elevation as a colleague's pit one month ago in this area, and found the snow had completely faceted since his observation on 11/7. On 11/7, he found wind effected thickening surface snow on top of storm snow and a basal layer of 4F rounds on northeast aspect near treeline. Today, the snow structure at this aspect and elevation was entirely composed of faceted snow, except the surface snow which was 1cm of surface hoard over wind packed particles.

Windy, strong gusts, broken skies, typical Indian Peaks weather.