Strong Winds and High Snowfall Rates on Rubicon

Periods of heavy snowfall rates up to 4''/hour along with strong SW winds had near whiteout conditions in exposed areas at upper elevations.  In below treeline terrain, wind transport was occurring with the skin track being covered by new blowing snow in some areas.  Little evidence of storm snow instabilities were found in more wind protected below treeline terrain.  In wind affected areas and near treeline terrain, wind slabs were forming up to 1' deep.  Shooting cracks were widespread near the peak where these wind slabs were forming.  We chose low angle non avalanche terrain where these signs of instabilities were present to avoid the avalanche problems that we observed.   The storm looked to be winding down on the drive home with some sun breaks, only to start snowing steadily again.