Strong, variable winds at Carson Pass

Pic 1: Shooting cracks were common on wind loaded features, especially unsupported ones. Even a minor interruption in the wind slab, like my dog's tracks 2-3m below mine, was enough to tip the balance towards propagating cracks. Weak layer within the wind blown snow, and not at the crust interface.

Pic 2: The rare W facing cornice, not a concern, but clear evidence of the E flow above treeline.

Although ridgetop winds and winds above treeline were distinctly from the E and Strong to Extreme, winds near and below treeline were not as consistent in direction, resulting in wind loaded features on all aspects observed (W/SW/S/SE/E), and all showed similar cracking as described above.

Features wind loaded from the Strong to Extreme E winds were loading downslope from typical wind loading areas. Typical wind loading areas were transitioning to supportable sastrugi. Features from more westerly winds were loading in the traditional areas near feature high points - again, note these features were lower in elevation and more protected from the E flow.

No buried surface hoar observed via several mitt pitts, but poor visibility made ID difficult. 2 very small and localized collapses were felt in very specific terrain features that acted as wind eddies and had accumulated 60+cm of new snow. Facets under recent rain crust continue to grow and weaken. Crust observed in various states from Knife hard to 1F.