Sensitive new/old interface and increasing winds at Carson Pass

Lower density (though still heavy and moist) new snow just above the old snow surface, with heavier snow on top, observed along Frog Lake Ridge and Elephant's Back. 10-20cm of new snow, with one 70cm drift observed. Increasing winds in the early afternoon were enough to overcome the dense snow at the surface on windward slopes, with significant wind transport observed at and above treeline. Old snow was transitioning from wet to a thin frozen crust at the new/old interface. Below this forming crust, wet snow extended down 10-30cm.

Pics: Every steep test slope produced consistent results just above the new/old interface. No propagation observed, but slab-like tendencies did increase as wind transport increased. Note pic 1: triggered by a very small snowball that rolled downhill a few meters before triggering the instability. Several test slopes ran the full length of the path, wrapping around obstacles and gaining significant speed (showing both wet and dry characteristics).

5 natural loose wet avalanches observed: 3 of which I saw initiated from roller balls in the rocks along Frog Lake Ridge and 2 were recent events likely from cornice fall at Elephant's Back. Though none were large enough to bury a person, they all ran full path length.

At 9,000ft on a NE aspect: Below the old wet snow surface, 1f hard rounds were observed both above and below the old crust/facet combo, with facets no longer observable.