Signs of Instability in Beehive Basin Area

Signs of Instability in Beehive Basin Area

Date
Activity
Skiing

Our group toured up into Beehive Basin yesterday with the goal of skiing Peru and returning via Middle Basin. Our ascents and descents on the day showed signs of small pockets of wind slab instability (cracking and small pockets pulling loose), but nothing significant. On our final ascent up the backside of middle peak, there was a large shooting crack, maybe 30 feet in length, but we adapted our ascent route and were able to avoid further significant instabilities. Hand pits showed a thin 2" wind slab on our final ascent slope. Throughout the day we noticed a few old crown lines varying from 1 to 2' in depth and up to about 150' wide. These crown lines were on E, NE, NW and W aspects. The debris appeared to not be recent as it was covered with new snow and eroded, and some of the crown lines were filling in. 

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
Eric Heiman