Strong winds and intense transporting snow on Round Top.

 On the drive out to Carson Pass this morning I could visibly see the wind blowing snow off Steven's and Red Lake peak from the bottom of Hope Valley. We toured out towards Round Top to see what the wind was doing to the snow. As we traveled we encountered variable conditions of snow: breakable melt freeze crusts, various thicknesses of wind board, ice patches, sustrugi, and deep wind drifts of snow. Below tree line there was evidence of snow movement creating small wind drifts and scouring in open areas. There was some protected areas that may have had 4" of  new snow from Tuesday; otherwise the new snow was completely blown away. Near tree line was where the snow was forming small soft wind slabs. These slabs were in isolated areas and stubborn to pop. Ski cut tests produced some fracturing but did not propagate far. Above tree line around all of Round top was either wind effected, wind waved, or wind scoured down to old ice crusts. Slab formation up high did not seem likely as most snow was sublimating back into the atmosphere. As the wind did its work, the sun and ambient air temps started to warm the surface snow despite the cooler temperatures and strong winds. Wet cohesive snow was found even on shaded north aspects below 9000'. Roller balls and pinwheels formed on smaller steeper terrain features as we skinned across them.