Observations in Beehive Basin

From email: "We skinned up the west ridge and dug a pit at 9000' on an east aspect. HS50cm. Extended column test did not show propagation. Column test CT 13@40, Q3, CT17@18, Q3. Snowpack structure is very poor. We did not find a slab on the slope we dug on. 50-40cm was new snow from last weekend's snow, 40-18 was F-4F Facets, and 18-0 is depth hoar. Depth hoar was cup-shaped and had visible striations. Route finding while skinning up to the ridge was very difficult due to low snow coverage and downfall. High clouds in the AM gave way to mostly sunny skies around 12. We saw small rollerballs, and the snow surface was starting to get moist as the sun poked out. We saw one point release avalanche on the west aspect of the basin in steep terrain that looked like it released during the 12/23-12/24 snowfall. We had the occasional collapse/whumpf while skinning on the ridge but it wasn't widespread. "