Faceted surface forms at Woods Lake

Cool and windy day at Carson Pass. East winds were visibly transporting snow from exposed slopes. Below treeline a thin crust was observed on the surface of all but the coldest slopes, with facets below the crust. On cold slopes without the crust, small facets were observed at the surface. The crust gained thickness and became more of a thin wind slab as we got near treeline. Several hand shears on the Dec 17th interface did not show planar results. An ECT propagated on the Dec 11th facets on a below treeline NE aspect.

Pic 1: Small shooting cracks were observed, that failed on facets right below the crust/wind slab. Most cracked directly from my skis, but this one cracked uphill of them.

Pic 2: As I was isolating an ECT, the thin crust broke and slid off the facets. Hand shears showed similar easy and planar results. The ECT did propagate on the Dec 11th facets.

Pic 3: The NE facing shoulder of Black Butte was stripped of much of its snow by the E winds.

Pic 4: Not much surface hoar remaining in this area, but where it is, it's quite developed. Facets observed under the surface hoar. My pole sunk into them even though I lay it down gently here.