Snowpack observations from Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 11:20
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 53.6832" N, 120° 21' 31.8168" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

2-4 inches of heavy, wet snow existed on top of lighter snow in most areas (photo 1). Easy to moderate force would break the bond between the wet snow and the snow below it. However, it was difficult to make this fracture propagate. Some shooting cracks did occur on steep heavily wnd-loaded N-facing slopes.

Photo 1: Layering in the recent snow

Photo 2: Shooting crack on a 35-degree, N-facing, wind-loaded slope.

Small slab failure on a 38-degree, N-facing, wind-loaded test-slope.

 

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

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snow all the way down to the trailhead at 7200'.