Castle Peak Observations

Moderate N to NW winds moving a fair amount of snow back over ridgelines.  All exposed terrain had some sort of wind effect on the surface, either a wind crust, wind ribbons or getting scoured.  Many small natural avalanches seen in the area, all thought to have occurred sometime late yesterday.  Ski cut/ski kicked many slopes, some entraining lots of snow but no propagation seen.  Heavy sluffing occuring in steeper terrain, 35 degrees +.  Light snow flurries occured during the mid day with only a trace of new snow acumulation.  The layer of concern appeared to be the interface between the Tuesday snow and Wednesday storm snow.  ECT and PST all indicated that propagation was not likely on top or below the 3/1 surface crust and at the interface between 3/2 and 3/3 storm snow.  Warming on solar aspects was not a problem at these elevations with the cloud cover, cold temps and N NW winds.  

Photo #1: Ski kicked off cornice at 8000' NE aspect.  Lots of snow entrained but little to no propagation.

Photo#2: Natural avalanche activity, N aspect 7500'.  Many small natural avalanches witnessed today, all thought to have occured sometime late yesterday.