Strong SW winds on ridgeline of Powderhouse peak.

  With SW winds and cooling temperatures we went to look for cold snow on Powderhouse peak. The skies were broken with low hazy clouds over the Sierra crest and large lenticulars over the Carson range. There was around three inches new snow in this area from last Tuesday's storm. It was mostly on shaded aspects and patchy in and out of solar aspects. In areas the new snow sat on top of Jan. rain crust with two-three inches of weak facets below. The new snow also covered some of the pine needle debris. Everywhere else on the way up  was a mix of melt freeze crust, new snow and some wet surface snow on solar aspects. The winds increased as we climbed up to the summit and was keeping solar aspects firm. There was no snow transporting on the summit or any of the other peaks in sight, nor was there any signs of recent avalanches.