Beaver Creek

We went out to assess mid-elevation wind-loading and the sensitivity of the new snow load on our weak snowpack structure.

• Minimal wind loading found at mid-elevations, but we experienced increasing winds throughout the day that might be building cohesive slabs
• 6-10" of new snow sitting on top of a thin crust (from 12/13)
• Weak snow just below the crust failed easily in stability tests on a variety of aspects and elevations... which is something to keep a close eye on

None observed but another observer that was up high on the ridge during the clear weather earlier in the day and saw remnants of multiple large avalanches. Our views further up the drainage were generally obscured by clouds during the day.

We found 6-10" of fresh snow from the 12/13 to 12/15 storm sitting on top of the thin, breakable December 13th rain crust on all aspects and elevations we travelled through. This crust formed at the beginning of the storm and caps a very poor snowpack below it, made up primarily of facets.

• In the valley bottom, we found remnants of surface hoar buried below the 12/13 crust and new snow
• Above 8200', we found evidence of mid-elevation winds (surface texture) but these had yet to fully form cohesive wind-slabs
• On the ridgetop above 8800', we found evidence of wind slabs - but these were very small and soft
• We dug two quick pits (profiles below) and both produced similarly unstable test results: ECTP12, PST16/100 END, and ECTP7 - failing on the recently buried facets just below the 12/13 crust
• Numerous hand pits and pole probing throughout our trip verified the widespread "facet stack" snowpack structure