(mostly) Strong snow on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
W ridge Castle Pk
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/02/2016 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.262" N, 120° 21' 36.4212" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Guide at Donner Summit Avalanche Seminars
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Our investigations of the N facing snow at 8216 ft on Castle Peak this morning yielded no signs of instability.  ECTX x3, RB7.  Very hard (boot/ski pen < 5 cm) surface crusts dominated most the area with isolated pockets void of any surface crusts.  HS 300-320 cm.  Snow 20-25 cm below surface was still dry with temps as low as -2.5 C.  Air temp = 6.5 C.  Light SW winds kept the snow surface cool and hard, but lower down on the E facing terrain at the N end of Andesite Ridge significant warming was apparent with ski pen increasing to 15 cm+.  

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest