Intense Blowing Snow, Unstable Wind Slabs, and Storm Snow Weaknesses

Changing weather kept us on our toes on Hidden Peak today. When we started ascending, breaks of sun and calm winds made it warmer than expected. Gale-force winds threatened to knock us over by the top of the peak, and blowing snow made it hard to see more than 10 feet ahead. The consistently strong winds and blowing snow extended into the trees to about 8600 ft. The intense blowing snow quickly formed new wind slabs in these areas. Ski cuts and kicks on small test slopes triggered shooting cracks and wind slab failures 10 to 14 inches deep. We did not venture close to any larger wind-loaded terrain, nor could we see anything in the Desolation Wilderness due to poor visibility. 

Below 8600 ft. in more sheltered terrain, the winds were calmer, with a few strong gusts from time to time. We could feel density changes in the recent snow with pole probes and hand pits. Ski cuts on steep test slopes did not trigger cracking or storm slab failures, but a snowpit test did produce unstable results (ECTP 30). It broke at the base of the recent storm snow on the old snow surface (rounding near-surface facets). 

The winds and snowfall increased throughout the day, but accumulation remained limited as of our departure at 2 pm.