Small loose wet avalanche on Castle Peak.

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Fri, 04/15/2016 - 12:10
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 46.8036" N, 120° 21' 29.9916" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Wet
Loose/Point-Release
Slope: 
42degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Aspect: 
East
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width: 
15ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
8 040ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
60ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
1
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Small loose wet avalanche intentionally skier triggered by ski cutting on an E aspect micro terrain feature on a greater S aspect. Sun affected recent storm snow on the surface ran on melt-freeze crust bed surface. While I was taking photos, etc another skier from a different party skied by an placed another ski cut adjacent to this avalanche. He triggered a smaller loose wet avalanche that was only about 5 feet wide.

Photos 1 & 2: Bed surface and debris.

Photo 3: Upper portion of start zone where ski cut was placed.

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
More detailed information about the weather: 

Warming was fairly gradual this morning for this time of year.