Signs of wind effect limited to above treeline areas.

Some signs of surface faceting of recent new snow above rain crust were present on N aspects in wind protected areas below treeline. We found supportable conditions even in areas of very thin snow cover. The depth of recent new snow on top of the 12/24 rain crust increased above 7,200' to 4 to 5 inches at 8,000'. Snowpit data collected on a NW aspect in very open below treeline terrain at 7,560' revealed no signs of current instability but gave some indications of potential developing weak layers worth monitoring.

Evidence of wind transport from last night's NE winds was minimal in the areas that we traveled which were all below 8,000'. Some very minor signs of scouring were noted on the ridgetop top proper, but the surface snow was still F hard. Looking higher to above treeline terrain along the Sierra Crest revealed some verglas and other heavily wind scoured areas. Observations from a distance noted very limited snow on the ground still available for transport by either SW or NE winds in above treeline areas.