Snow surface observations and a test pit from Castle

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/12/2010 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 56.3688" N, 120° 21' 24.2172" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

A thick supportable rain crust exists on the northerly aspects in this area. This crust varied in thickness from 2-8 inches and remains frozen solid until I left the area around 1 PM. Layer bonding tests showed good bonding between this strong crust and the snow below it. This crust created firm, icy surface across most NW-N-NE aspects in this area.

Photo 1: Thick, firm, ice crust formed by the recent rains on a NNW aspect.

Photo 2: Runnels on a NW aspect at about 8000 ft.

On the southerly aspects the sun did soften the snow surface. By noon 2-3 inches of soft, wet, corn snow existed on the surface with a supportable base underneath it in most places up to 9000 ft. Near rocks and shrubs one could sink to the ground. Below 7800 ft. on these sun exposed aspects the snow softened into 4-8 inches of wet, sticky snow by 12:30 PM.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: