Widespread Surface Hoar on Castle/Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 12/28/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 50.8176" N, 120° 21' 38.1816" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Widespread surface hoar in the Castle Peak and Andesite Peak areas today.  3-6mm surface hoar observed in Castle Valley above 7400', up to 8400' on the SW ridge of Castle Peak, into Round Valley, and all around and up to the top of Andesite Peak-8200'.  Light SW winds and full cloud cover by late mid day preserved the surface hoar on all aspects and elevations throughout the day.  This layer of surface hoar could be preserved and buried over the next couple of days with the forecasted storms if conditions persist.

Photo #1:  4-6mm surface hoar at 7500' in Castle Valley

Photo #2:  4-6mm surface hoar at 8200' on Andesite Peak

Traveling up the SW ridge of Castle Peak we kicked off several cornices onto steep test slopes with no avalanche results.  Also had no results from cornice drops and ski cuts on small test slopes on Andesite Ridge and Peak.  Above 8000' there is 200-240cm on top of the 12/2 rain crust with HS greater than 260cm in all locations.  Snowpack from the buried 12/2 rain crust up to the surface felt very right side up while probing.

Photo #3:  Cornice drop on NE test slope, 35 degree slope at 8100'.  No avalanche results. 

No avalanches observed in this area today.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Full cloud cover by mid day.  Very flat light throughout the afternoon.