Cold and Windy on Carson Pass

Driving down to Carson Pass we saw plenty of evidence of the NE winds. Trees were swaying in the wind, snow was blowing across the road on Luther Pass, and large waves were crashing against the west shore of Lake Tahoe. We drove up to the Meiss Trailhead at Carson Pass and opted to turn back for more sheltered terrain on Elephants Hump. While driving back down the Elephants Hump trailhead, we even saw rocks blowing off the exposed road cut on Carson Pass.

We toured in the Elephants Hump area to look at new snow amounts and wind slab development.  Light snow was falling in the morning hours with around 1-2'' of new snow at this location.  Gale force NE winds were swirling and moving snow in all directions.  Most of the snow surfaces in this area were variable crust conditions with some patches of new snow and wind drifted snow.  In the heaviest wind-loaded locations, 4-6'' of windblown snow existed.  These areas were small, did not extend very far, and were broken up with other firm scoured sections.  We did not encounter any consistent or sizable wind-loaded locations.  Breakable crusts on northerly aspects continue to facet and lose strength, which provided some relatively nice edgable conditions.  The clouds began breaking up by midday with periods of sun developing by early afternoon, the gale force NE winds continued.