High intensity blowing snow and rapidly forming, touchy cornices on Castle Peak.

After a morning lull in snowfall intensity, snowfall rates increased dramatically to 1 to 2 inches per hour around 11 am. The difference in wind transport and drifting snow was remarkable with relatively quite storm conditions on Andesite Peak and very high intensity blowing snow on the SW ridge of Castle Peak. On Castle Peak, cornices were forming rapidly and were overhung 2 to 3 feet at noon. The cornices were very touchy and failed easily with a single ski kick. These cornices would likely failed under the weight of a person if we had actually gotten out on them. We avoided most of the largest cornices.

Signs of storm slab instability were noted where another party had triggered a small skier triggered avalanche. Otherwise, no snow surface cracking was observed in wind protected areas. Wind slabs were rapidly forming but showed only minor cracking from skier weight.

We avoided all slopes steeper than 30 degrees and had excellent skiing conditions on our way back out on 27-28 degree slopes during the early afternoon hours. New snow depth had reached around 1 foot and cooling air temperatures had decreased the density of new snow on the surface, especially compared to earlier this morning.