Wind Slab and Storm Slab Instability on Jakes Peak

Partly sunny skies were replaced by clouds and light snow by mid day.  Snow increased to 1''+ per hour with strong SW winds in exposed areas near the peak.  Reactive wind slabs up to 1' deep were found along the summit plateau on small test slopes.  These wind slabs would fail easily with ski kicks or ski cuts.  In terrain below treeline around 8800' to 8000' on E aspects, many signs of unstable storm slabs were present.  Small shooting cracks off ski tips while down skiing and cracks extending off of ski turns were widespread.  Storm slabs were developing and showing signs of unstable conditions, but did not have full slab characteristics at this point with propagation.   Storm conditions were deteriorating through the early afternoon with avalanche instability increasing.