Snowpit and observations from Castle Peak

Location Name: 
Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/06/2015 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 58.8852" N, 120° 21' 13.7412" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Snowpit dug adjacent to snowpit from Nov 29. Compared to that snowpit profile, old basal facets have continued to round. ECT results have transitioned from ECTP with sudden collapse fracture character to ECTN/ECTX results. PST continues to indicate that propagation along the top of the now well rounded old basal facets is likely if the weak layer can be collapsed. Per the ECT results, collapsing this weak layer is very difficult to accomplish through typical human triggers of skier/snowmobile weight.

Very minor amounts of blowing snow were observed with around 2cm of total new snow accumulation. No signs of problematic new wind slab formation were observed.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Gale Force
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour