Castle Peak Observations

We toured in the Castle and Andesite Peak areas today to monitor the snowpack and any snow transport from the strong E winds.  Around 1-2 feet of supportable snow exists throughout this area from the trailhead up to 9000'.  Snow surface conditions on northerly aspects range from wind scoured snow in open exposed areas to soft unconsolidated snow in protected below treeline areas.  On southerly slopes snow melt and loss has occurred with areas of melt freeze conditions.  Recent winds, including today, have scoured terrain at the upper elevations on multiple aspects.  Some light snow transport was seen on the higher ridges of Castle Peak with most of this being sublimated into the sky.  Weak near surface faceted snow exists in many near and below treeline areas most prevalent on NW-N-NE aspects, but also found on W and E aspects.  In wind protected areas, the near surface facets provide good unconsolidated snow for travel.  In more exposed areas, the near surface facets have been observed below wind scoured snow and crusts.  This weak faceted snow does not present a current problem, but could potentially be a future weak layer when our next storm arrives.