Blowing snow at Mount Judah

Tahoe Mountain School AIARE 1 class visited the Mount Judah and Donner Peak areas today to practice observations and decision making in avalanche terrain. From the trailhead and throughout the day we observed wind blowing from the southwest and transporting snow onto leeward slopes (Photos 1 and 2). Wind pillows and small cornices forming along ridgeline terrain features were observed. A small test slope ski cut released the 4-6" thick wind slab in Photo 3. We kept to our plan and avoided steep slopes with wind loading or cornices forming at the top of them. 

Searching for the 12/19 Surface Hoar layer yeilded some evidence- Photo 4 shows blown over SH with newly windblown snow around it (at pin drop location below Wildflower ridge). A CT at the test slope noted above failed at CT6 SC about 4" deep- I was not able to see SH at this location though.