Thick melt-freeze surface layer on south side Castle Peak at 8,600'.

Touring on the S aspect terrain of Castle Peak today showed continued melt-freeze cycles and the presence of a thick melt-freeze layer at the snow surface. At noon at 8,600' on above treeline S aspect terrain below the prominent cliffs, 1 to 1.5 inches of corn snow had formed from daytime melt following a solid overnight snow surface refreeze. This area had protection from convective cooling from today's light E winds. Below the corn snow was the remainder of the surface melt-freeze layer, very thick and high density. This layer progressed in hardness with depth from pencil hard to ice hard at 15 cm (6 in) down. I was unable to punch the handle end of my pole through this layer, despite repeated forceful attempts.

Snowcover in the area remains adequate. No signs of current loose wet instability in this area present at midday. The remains of three size D1 loose wet avalanches in this area are 12 days old.