Linking Link Lake and Link not Lake Mountain

Strong and gusty winds seemed confined to terrain downwind of saddle between Link and Lake Mountains - plenty of trees in motion downwind of there, along with drifting on and near the lake. Light winds at the summit of Lake Mountain. Downsloping? Snowfall intensified from S-1/S1 to S2 early afternoon. Light drifting at mid-elevations below lake, but wind mostly just stiffened surface of new snow. Consistently found a thin layer of surface hoar buried 8-14" below snow surface. On numerous test slopes, got short cracks around skis, and only 1 short (<10') crack that shot straight away from skis. No collapses. ECTN in 2 snowpits (6200'; East and 6450', northeast). Snowpack below this layer 4F-1F, with interfaces between storm or wind events not propagating in ECTs. Could not safely enter steep, leeward terrain on east face of peak, though the snow on this slope didn't look very wind-affected. On ridge above this slope, saw no fresh cornices and got no cracking stomping around like angry children.