A preliminary study of whole air measurements within a snowpack in the subalpine forest of Colorado found that lower snow layers and underlying soil were a strong source of chemically active trace gases (VOC). The emissions of trace gases were correlated with emissions of radiatively active greenhouse gases (CO₂ and N₂O) through the snowpack. Carbon dioxide was enhanced in the lower snowpack to over 1000 ppmv, similar to previous studies, which have shown that a thermal insulation of snow covering the soil leads to enhanced emissions of CO₂ equivalent to a large fraction of annual respiration. Comparable enhancements of several VOCs reached 1275, 1670, and 1000 pptv for methyl chloride, propane, and α-pinene, respectively. The measurements are limited to a one-day pilot study, however, considering that previous studies have reported significant CO₂ emissions through snowpacks any emissions of VOC may also be important on a local or potentially global scale.