Snowpit from West Ridge of Castle Peak

Dug a pit at the noted elevation and aspect on our Andesite-Castle Ridge tour today. Adjacent to the usual skintrack on the ridge.

NNE facing slope. In a wind pillow close to the ridge top. Slope angle low 30s.

HS 75cm.

ECTX. December 11 facets were down 60cm. Still obvious, but definitely rounding. Could almost make a snowball with them.

After my ECT, I levered the top of the column forward on the other end from where I was tapping and got a clean shear 25cm down. There was no obvious density change here and other than a bit of soft snow from last night on top of the most crust from yesterday, density was 1 finger all the way down to a crust just above the December 11 facets. Suspect the shear may have been on a thin ice crust that otherwise wasn't noticeable.

No instabilities noted during tour. Mostly overcast. Almost no breeze. Snow still on trees. Snowing lightly at the car at 3pm.