New wind deposits on surface hoar

As forecast, it was a very windy day around Blue Lakes Rd and Burnside Lake, with lots of wind transport observed. Right below ridgetops, I consistently found intact surface hoar buried a few inches from the surface. Farther from ridgetops, surface hoar was still on the surface and being destroyed by the winds. Test slopes resulted in shallow shooting cracks, and mitt pits and shovel tilts confirmed the cracking was occuring on the buried surface hoar. Test slopes away from ridgetops did not show signs of instability.

Pic 1: A shovel tilt with buried surface hoar a few inches down. The planar failure right at the surface was a density change, likely caused by the increase in winds.

Pic 2: A planar hand shear failure on surface hoar.

Pic 3: A shallow shooting crack.

Pic 4: Away from ridgetops, the winds had blown over the surface hoar before burying it.

Video: Ridgetops were so windy it was difficult to stand.