Scouring and Facets on Castle Peak

Location Name: 
North Castle Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/04/2016 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 48.06" N, 120° 20' 26.232" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A mix of scoured surfaces and crusts existed on exposed slopes in the Castle Peak area today. On the southerly aspects, a variable sun crust existed and on the northerly aspects wind scoured firm icy surfaces existed. Some of the upper elevation north aspects that were sheltered from the winds by a ridge or cliffs did have some sections of less scoured and softer snow. The most sheltered northerly aspects in near and below treeline terrain still held areas of soft and unconsolidated snow. The W and SW winds did increase some today but little to no wind slab formation was observed. 

Snowpit data on the north side of Castle Peak showed that a layer of facets still exists near the base of the snowpack. Tests targeting this layer indicated that triggering it remains unlikely, but that it could reactivate under future loading. 

Photo: Wind scoured upper elevation start zones on the N side of Castle Peak

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

SW winds started increasing this morning but resulted in little to no wind transport of snow. Partly cloudy with breaks of sun during the morning hours.