Observation: Castle Peak

Observation Date
3/30/2016
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » South Fork Weber River » Castle Peak
Location Name or Route
Castle Peak
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem #1 Comments

My primary concern was density inversions as well as the new snow/melt-freeze interface. I jumped above 3 and on 2 of the 3 test slopes and was not able to initiate any cracking nor collapsing.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
15°

After skiing a few upside down lines on the Park City Ridgeline I double-dipped and headed to Upper Setting in the early afternoon. The road is on/off melted out the first mile. It was snowing lightly when I left but as the afternoon progressed the snow turned moderate to heavy. I headed up to a test slope between Castle Peak and Duke which I am usually able to get to slide when there is enough new snow. After unsuccessful attempts to get 3 different small but typically wind loaded steep SW and NE slopes to fail I skied down the NE slope few hundred yards and dug. The density inversion layer found within the new snow was the only layer that failed but it did not propagate. I did, however; discover two thin facet layers within the top 100 cm of snow which may be a concern given enough new snow to break the 4 melt-freeze/ice layers above.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates