Snowpack observations from Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:31
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.262" N, 120° 21' 33.3324" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Testing the interface between the Feb 19th snow surface and the snow above it in several locations, today. On Castle Peak below 8500' the Feb. 19th layer is a crust. On top of this crust is a layer of weak snow grains mixed with stronger grains. Above this hybrid layer a stong slab exists to about 7 inches below the surface. Soft unconsolidated snow exists on the sheltered northerly aspects above 8000'. Below 8000' this surface turns to a mix of crusts and heavy snow on the northerly aspects. 2-4 inches of wet snow existed on the southerly aspects up to 8500'. Some signs of avalanche activity from during the storm on the north side of Castle; however, the only observed signs of instability today were very small (only a ski width wide and 10 ft long) skier-triggered wet snow sluffs on the lower elevation southerly aspects.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: