E winds at Carson Pass

Strong E winds along ridgetops observed in the morning, with significant wind transport. By the afternoon, winds reduced to Moderate along ridgetops, and Calm to Light below treeline. Wind exposed slopes did not have much loose snow remaining available for transport by the afternoon. Numerous W aspect terrain features and cross loaded gullies observed, with thin wind slabs ranging from soft to hard, and irregularly distributed. Surface hoar and near surface facets observed on open slopes in the morning, but I did not see any SH remaining intact by our departure in the afternoon. Excellent skiiing still available on sheltered slopes in the trees.

Pic 1: Surface hoar and near surface facets in the morning.

Pic 2: Soft wind slab was too thin for compression tests or extended column tests, but this shovel tilt produced a clean and planar failure.

Pic 3: Hard wind slab was easy to get to crack, but tapered to very thin within short distances which limited propagation distances. 

Pic 4: Surface hoar and near surface facets blown into our skin track. Our previous lap had been about 20 minutes prior.

Pic 5: NE aspect near ridgetop. Lots of boot-high sastrugi formations and exposed Dec 12th crust made skinning challenging.