New Snow on Rubicon Peak

Toured on Rubicon Peak today.  About 6'' of new snow at trailhead with rain soaked snow below this.  This buried rain layer existed up to around 7800-8000' where it turned into a layer of denser snow at the higher elevations that provided ski supportable conditions.  About 1' of new storm snow above 8000' has accumulated over the last 2 day storm cycle.  Along the skin track on the way up, hand pits showed very good bonding of the recent storm snow.  We dug a snowpit towards the top of the peak at 8900' in an open but wind protected area.  We found a layer of buried surface hoar below this recent storm snow.  The layer was not very consistent through the snowpit location but did show consistent unstable test results.  There were no other signs of instability showing that this layer was weak or reactive.  We would have expected to observe cracking or whumpfing if this layer was problematic, but did not in this area.  Along the ridge just off the peak, small cornices and wind features were built out from the storm and strong to gale force SW winds.  Small wind slabs were reactive and cracked and failed under the weight of a skier.  The storm cleared out of this area by mid morning, although Desolation Wilderness was still socked in with dark clouds.