Becker Ridge Observation

Driving up Echo Summit the minimal new snow visible had me second guessing not going to the highest elevation spot around but snow amounts increased and I found about 5 inches of heavy powder at the Echo Lakes SnoPark. I gained about six hundred feet along the ridge toward Becker peak and new snow amounts increased to about 10 inches at my highpoint. Snow was definitely on the heavier side at this elevation. Due to tree cover and snow heaviness I was probably below the range of likely wind slab development. Winds were moderate from the south but I didn't observe snow transport during my tour. I jumped on mulitple small test slopes and even after undercutting them with skin tracks I observed no slab behavior. I dug a pit to look at the new snow and recent crusts. Below the new snow the crusts and neighboring soft snow were moist and easily clumped together when I closed my fist. The fresh snow was enjoyable to ride down to Echo Lake but definitely on the heavy end of the spectrum. 

Photo 1: Heavy snow spackled trees along Echo Lake Road.

Photo 2: Very small cracking in some areas where new snow was shallow and older snow was wet.

Photo 3: Looking at the new snow.

Photo 4: No propagation observed here. 

Photo 5: All the snow around the older crusts was moist in this location and easily formed snowballs. 

Photo 6: Surface conditions were enjoyable but heavy. 

Photo 7: Around 10:30am Hwy 50 over Echo Summit was completely clear of snow and wet (it had been snow covered before 8am).