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Castle Lake

Location Name: 
Castle Lake
Region: 
Castle Lake
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/27/2016 - 8:00pm
Observation made by: 
Professional Observer

Location Map

United States
41° 13' 19.128" N, 122° 23' 23.856" W
US

Snowpack Observations

Details

We were pleasantly surprised with the discovery of 10-12 inches of low density snow at the Castle Lake parking lot at 10 a.m.

Overalll snowpack conditions were stable, with settled new storm snow well bonded with the old snow rain crust. CT tests yielded stable results.

Areas of possible concern were isolated to steep northerly wind effected slopes in the bowl above Heart Lake just below the top of Middle Peak. Several type 2 avalances have occured in this area, most likely occuring shortly after the last storm cycle. Wind slabs remain on some north easterly aspects of this bowl and could be sensitive to ski triggering or warming trends in the next few days. The bowl was a mix of avalanche bed surface, wind crusts, wind scour, and settled powder in low regions.

Powder hounds will likely find some good skiing over the next couple of days in areas of low sun and wind exposure.  Expect melt-freeze crusts on aspects exposed to the sun.

Be prepared for some manzanita avoidance, but overall Castle Lake has a great base and should provide some great skiing after future storm cycles.

Lake is frozen and ready for foot traffic.

Slide Below Middle Peak

 

Left Peak

 

Middle Peak

Snow Pit Photos

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
No
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
Southeast