Snowpack observations from Castle Peak

Snow surface below treeline was already wet, heavy, sticky by 10:30 am on any sun exposed aspects. I was able to trigger large 2-3 ft diameter roller balls on steep test slope in below treeline terrain on sun-exposed slopes by 11 am. Near and above treeline the sun-exposed snow had just started to warm up with wet snow starting to form on the very surface. New, firm wind slabs up to 2-2.5 ft deep had formed on pockets of terrain. Even though observations showed a mostly stable snowpack some of the storm snow weaknesses still exist. Once the storm snow warms up a little more it will destabilize. Natural point release slides started to occur on the S facing aspects up to 8700' by 11 am. The NE winds continued to transport snow during gusts. The snow on the mid to low elevation, sheltered N-NE aspects had started to get heavy and sticky by 11 am as well. In the shade it remained cold. On the higher elevation northerly aspects any exposed slopes had been scoured by the NE winds leaving a hard wind scoured surface behind.