Reactive Wind Slab Avalanches on Carpenter Ridge

Gale force SW winds along with heavy snowfall in the Carpenter Ridge area today.  Snowfall rates around 2''/ hour with the SW winds transporting intense amounts of snow near and above treeline with moderate + amounts below treeline.  Wind slabs were reactive and easy to trigger on test slopes.  Newly forming wind slabs were 6 to 8'' deep in the late morning and growing rapidly.   Upwards of 1' of new storm snow had accumulated by our departure at 3pm.  Storm slabs were beginning to form in below treeline terrain with cracking observed around skis.