Hoar frost, characterized by it’s large flat crystals forms during periods of clear cold weather. It is delicate and beautiful to see. I spotted some yesterday that had grown upon the weeds along Horseshoe Lake Road.
While beautiful to see, it can be dangerous when it forms up in the snowpack of the mountains. It creates a weak layer in the snow, and when more snow accumulates on top of it, the fragile crystals of hoar frost below can crumble and break loose causing an avalanche. Avalanche experts did down through the snow layers to check for weak layers before they ski or do other winter activities high in the mountains.
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Neat.
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