Surface hoar and isolated buried surface hoar layer in Castle Peak area.

Surface hoar located in the valley basin, in a wind protected forest with Max Wittenberg (Westwood Collective) during an Aaire 2 course. Surface hoar was found in most low-lying, wind protected North to North-East facing aspects around the castle peak area. We dug a snow pit and conducted a compression test and an extended column test. The compression test broke on a CTH 23, with an ECTN. The fracture was a result of some buried surface hoar on this isolated face that was wind protected, and seems to be one of the only specific issues remaining in the region. There was also large settlement cones located throughout the forests, highlighting the stability of the snow pack.