Near surface facets in Deep Creek.

True N aspects holding consistent distribution of unconsolidated near surface facets on open slopes. I expected to find the Dec 4 buried surface hoar layer at the snowpit location, but it was notably absent. The Dec 4 SH layer was also absent in hand pits in the general area. No signs of instability observed either formally or informally in below treeline to near treeline areas traveled in Deep Creek.

Blowing snow was visible above treeline during wind gusts to the north along the Sierra Crest between Tinker's Knob and Anderson Peak. No blowing snow was seen over the top of the Deep Creek drainage. The most blowing snow was observed to the south on Silver Peak (see other ob). From our location we were unable to discern if blowing snow was forming slabs, mostly sublimating, or being blown too far down slope to present a problem.