New Snow and Wind Slabs on Andesite

We decided to go to Andesite Peak to collect data. We planned a route that stayed in terrain not capable of producing large avalanches or being overrun by an avalanche from above. We used small test slopes to gather data and observed larger terrain features from safe zones.  

Driving up I-80, we saw lots of blowing snow, cornices, and drifted snow on the side of the road. At the trailhead, we found about 8 inches of new snow sitting on top of a thick layer of rain-soaked snow. Hand pits and ski cuts on small test slopes in sheltered areas showed good bonding between this wet snow and the new snow above it.
 
Blowing snow on the ridge was intense. Cornices existed above many slopes. Fragile wind slabs had formed on the leeward aspects. We triggered several wind slab avalanches on small test slopes with ski kicks or small cornice pieces dropped onto the slopes. Near the top of Andesite, a small backpack-sized cornice piece triggered the largest wind slab we saw. It was about 1 ft deep and about 40 ft wide. 

Snowfall rates during our tour seemed to average close to 2 inches an hour. Our skin track would refill in less than 30 minutes. Temperatures remained cold during the tour, and the snowpack in sheltered areas felt mostly right side up.