Observations from Castle Pass and Andesite Ridge.

Location Name: 
Castle Pass/Andesite Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.9568" N, 120° 21' 32.6052" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Established melt freeze exists on SE-S-SW aspects in this area in the 8,400' to 7,700' elevation range. These areas were ski supportable with surface wet snow over several inches of melt-freeze crust. Good travel conditions during the late morning hours with well above average air temperatures. Some of the E aspects on Andesite Ridge at +/- 8,000' had well established melt-freeze. Slopes with a slightly more ENE aspect remained transitional with surface wet snow over cold drier snow and no melt-freeze crust separating the melted and unmelted layers.

A testpit dug at the noted lat/long (WNW aspect, 8,240', at treeline) revealed no problematic test results within the top 90 to 100 cm of the 190 cm snowpack at that location. No failures on the remains of old facet layers. One ECTN and one CTM-RP result occurred on a lingering density change within the most recent storm snow which is now rounded crystals. This snowpit was just to the NE of numerous avalanche class snowpits in the area.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: