Wind-drifting

We skied the west slope of Woody ridge today.. At 9814', there was 200 cm height of snow. The aspect was 300° azimuth. Slope was 25°. Air temp was 28°. Wind was steady 5 mph, with gusts at least 13 mph. 

 

Temp at the dump parking lot was 36° at 0930, and my skins continued sticking up to almost 9000'. 

 

Don and Jesse skied the same run yesterday, to 10,000' and there was deeper ski penetration yesterday (boot deep), and the snow today had settled, so ski penetration was only 2-3". In addition, yesterday's tracks had drifted completely in.  Our skin tracks today filled in rapidly, due to steady snow and blowing wind.  

There was no whumphing or cracking either day. Don says he noticed "hollowness" yesterday above 9800'. 

 

We found a lot of wind-affected snow cross loading the face, especially closest to a gully on the windward side.  From 9200' up, there's probably 2-4' of wind deposition.