Observations from Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 12/13/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 52.596" N, 120° 21' 36.252" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Note: Photos were taken at lat/long attached to this observation. Pit profile was taken at higher elevation location at lat/long noted on pit profile.

Photo 1: 4-6 mm surface hoar was widespread in this area, especially above 8,000'.

Photo 2: Noted lat/long, NNW aspect bowl, site of the Dec 2003 avalanche fatality, very uniformly covered in surface hoar.

Surface hoar in this area showed not signs of destruction on W-NW-N-NE-E aspects today. With the forecast cold temps and upcoming snowfall, there is a chance that this surface hoar could become buried.

Snowpit data indicated that the Dec 2 facet layer did not have enough new snow load on top of it to become reactive yet in this area.

Very small and minor skier triggered cracking of surface wind slabs up to 6 inches deep observed in wind loaded areas.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: