OOooooooooooooooo! Snow stratigraphy!!
*Mel geeks out*
Looks like some good roof avalanches are ready to happen!
Jeff, the first storm mostly came from the southwest rather than from the west, and didn't really pick up steam until it hit the plains and the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico got pulled into it, and then got pulled up the eastern slope of the Front Range, and then.... bam. The ski areas actually weren't hit as hard, as far as I can tell. Well, they were hit hard enough to have powder.
I think the passes were closed around here for the last one. They're always closed when it snows. Even today, when it's above freezing at my house, the passes are probably closed or require chains.
Of course, there are three ski areas on my side of the passes.
And the cross-country tracks in the National Forest are groomed, which is more important to me.
(Plus I think that when they call out the National Guard to help clear Colorado roads, they must let Denver fend for itself or something. I can't believe that some of the city streets weren't plowed yet from the last storm.)