Blowing snow at Carson Pass

Toured near Frog Lake on Carson Pass this afternoon. Winds were continously strong with occassional gail force gusts. Rate of snowfall seemed to increase after 2pm. Lots of evidence of wind slab in open areas below treeline. It was challenging to determine how much new snow fell due to so much wind transport. Around a foot of new snow was present in many spots, with more in wind loaded areas. 

Photo 1: Cracking in wind slab on a test slope.

Photo 2: Winds were impressive and there were areas scoured down to a firm crust...which is what my pole laying down on this crusty snow is trying to show. 

Photo 3: Windy and snowing several inches an hour. 

Photo 4: Got multiple ECTNs (with failure at the new snow/old snow interface) at this wind loaded spot on the edge of the trees. The snow in this location was sitting on a firm crust with no near surface facets that I could detect (although obervations were challenging). The amount of new snow here was definitely on the high end due to wind loading.