Corn and Crusts on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/11/2012 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.6544" N, 120° 21' 32.0472" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

The northerly aspects as well as shaded other aspects hold the same crust facet combination seen in other parts of the forecast area. The surface crust has started to deteriorate some, but it is still supportable and icy in most places on Castle Peak. Tests show that the facets remain weak. Snowpit data also shows a strong snowpack consisting of thick strong rain crusts and consolidated rounded snow exists below those facets.

On the sun-exposed southerly slopes about 2 inches of soft corn snow formed on the surface by 1 pm. Once the cloud cover obscured the sun this soft corn snow started to refreeze.

Photo 1: Small sluff of the soft corn snow on a steep S facing test slope.

Photo 2: Rain runnels in the snow surface on a lower elevation (7500 ft) N aspect

Snowpit: A test pit showing the facet crust combo on a N aspect at 8200 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: