New Snow Instability Beehive

New Snow Instability Beehive

Date
Activity
Skiing

About 6 inches of new snow at the trailhead around 9am. While touring to the ridge between beehive and middle basin we found strong wings actively loading east facing slopes. While moving north across the ridge, small test slopes showed cracking but no cohesive wind slabs yet. When skiing into middle basin, I stopped at the top of a convex roller and had cracks shooting out 50 feet in either direction from what seemed to be a soft slab in the new snow that slid about a foot or so. This was the most major sign of instability from the day. Lots of shooting cracks when skiing and skinning in the new snow. Throughout the day found anywhere from 8-15 inches of new snow, with the larger totals on wind loaded slopes.

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Middle Basin
Observer Name
Spencer Lipsteuer