Obs from Castle Peak

Toured in the Castle Peak area today looking for the 12/6 buried surface hoar layer and signs of wind slab avalanche problems.

We observed early season cornices building along the ridgetops in the normal locations oriented towards the North and Northeast. Below the cornices the North wind had refilled the scarp areas and some evidence of wind transport to South and West aspects was observed as well, although the wind speeds were generally calm to light so transport was limited. 

At the pin drop location we dug a snowpit looking for the 12/6 surface hoar layer. Adjacent to this area we observed several mid slope natual avalanches with crown heights of approximately 1-2 feet. All of these natual avalanches were on Northeast facing terrain and many of them were on mid slope features with convex rollovers and unsupported slope structures. (Photo 1, and Photo 2 with crowns drawn in).  Our snowpit near this area showed distinct layers that correlate with the recent storms and varying snow levels. We were not able to observe the buried 12/6 surface hoar layer. We did observe and get a sudden planar result on a buried graupel layer, but further testing did not suggest likely propagation on this layer (Photo 3). 

We dug 2 additional pits targeting the 12/6 surface hoar layer closer down toward Round Valley (WNW aspect, 7900') in locations that had surface hoar currently on the surface (suggesting that it could have formed in this location), but we were only able to observe similar grapuel layers at interfaces. Further CTs revealed no additional layers of concern.

On return to Castle Pass we observed what may have been a crown from an avalanche on the ENE side of the summit of Andesite Peak. Unfortunately we did not have time to investigate further.