Wind Slabs and Some Facets on Castle Peak

Wind transport continued to form hard stiff wind slabs on the wind-loaded aspects today. Ski kicks on some wind loaded N-NE facing test slope produced shooting cracks and one test slope released a small wind slab that measured about 20 feet wide with a crown of 8-12 inches. The wind slab quickly became much shallower as the distance from the ridge increased and it only measured -2 inches in depth about 10-15 ft. downslope. Debris from a possible wind slab avalanche was observed in the base of one of the NE facing gullies at the following coordinates 39.365235, -120.344983.

Photo 1 and 2: Small wind slab described above on a NE facing wind loaded test slope at 8500 ft. 

Photo 3: Shooting cracks on another wind loaded test slope in near treeline terrain.

On due north aspects above 8300 feet, the facet layer at buried under a crust at the base of the recent snow still existed. Snowpit tests targeting this layer today showed less unstable results than those in the same area a few days ago but some tests still indicated that fractures could travel along this layer if it breaks. Observations did indicate that this layer still warrants monitoring. On more E and NE aspects this layer of facets was either non-existent or much less well developed. Snowpit observations on an ENE aspect at almost 8700 ft. (coordinates: 39.3663333,-120.3512496) showed another developing facet layer above the ice crust. Tests on this layer indicated that it may be difficult to trigger at the moment but that it also bears monitoring. 

Photo 4: PST 34/100 END on the facet layer below the crust @ the map location of this observation. The shovel marks where the crack propagated to the end of the column.

On windward SW-S aspects significant wind scouring was occurring and left behind a firm scoured snow surface.