Snowpit on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 11:50
Location Map: 
United States
39° 22' 1.056" N, 120° 21' 17.1" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Photo: Snowpit after ECTN result. New snow and obvious rain crust with small facets on top of the crust.

Minimal evidence of slab instability in this area today. Very minor cracking up to 1 foot in wind pillows. Most areas held 6 to 8 inches of new snow with small wind pillows 12 to 18 inches deep. Decent bonding of new snow to rain crust/facets at this time, so more loading will be required to create instability.

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

Snow level at 7,300' at 10am had risen to 7,450' at 1pm.