Beard Mountain

Snowpit on a NE aspect at 9100' revealed a mostly consolidated snowpack with three primary weaker interfaces. The total snowpack depth here ranged from 5- 6 feet (180 cm).  Test results yielded no propagation, but we noted an ECTN20 on Feb. 2 layer buried ~2.5 feet (70 cm) deep that fractured over half of the column. This layer was too small to isolate in a propagation saw test (PST). The PST did show propagation on the Jan. 4 layer, now around 3.8 feet (116 cm) deep, PST 40/140 End, but did not produce results on weaker, 4F hard basal facets (very weak, larger-grain snow crystals) at the ground.  New snow instability (wind slabs, cornices) was our primary concern where we traveled today. We avoided poking farther into the north side of the mountain, as the snowpack appeared rippled, wind-affected, and overall thin, with rock cliff bands still visible. 

Mostly cloudy in the morning, transitioning to light snowfall at 9000' around 2:00 pm. Winds were calm most of the day, with occasional light gusts from the west. At 9000': 10 - 14" of low-density new snow over the past 24 hrs.  At parking lot elevation (6700'), new snow accumulation was 4 - 6".  Wind-affected snow was isolated to higher elevations and ridgelines. We found two recent wind slabs released from ridgelines on N and E aspects with estimated crown heights of 14 - 16". These slabs were not energetic and arrested after traveling a short distance—no signs of cracking or collapsing in new snow below ridgeline elevations. 

 

Small pockets of windslab below cornices and dry loose avalanches were noted on north aspects at and above 9,000 feet.