As expected, the snowpack below treeline is losing strength with lots of clear nights and cold temperatures. What were once stiff, connected slabs are now less cohesive and unreactive in stability tests. This can change quickly on open wind-affected slopes or as you move up into the alpine, where winds have created much harder slabs that are not breaking down as quickly. These slopes are still potentially dangerous and should be investigated thoroughly or avoided.

Beaver Creek Sidecountry

Headed out the upper gate to poke around Stone Creek Bowl and lower Bald Spot

I dug on a northeast-facing slope at the upper end of below treeline and the lower end of near treeline and found similar results to what I've seen across the highway in the Gore Range. There was around 120cm of settled snow, with the snowpack split between the new slab formed since Christmas and the old rotten snow from Thanksgiving. The slab was still supportive to skis but was giving way to my boot, especially as I was digging. The slab was clearly faceting, and I had zero propagation in stability tests. On north and west-facing slopes lower down below the Bald Spot, I found even less snow and more facets.

Clear and cold but thankfully not too windy.