Castle Peak

The snow surface felt mostly frozen and supportable on open slopes this morning on Castle Peak. When we ventured into forested areas, very little refreeze crust existed, and we sometimes sank up to our ankles in wet snow. We mostly stuck to the open areas. 

Aspects that got morning sun softened quickly. By 10:30, E-SE-S facing slopes had 1-2 inches of soft, wet snow resting on a thin but still supportable melt-freeze crust. Ski cuts on steep slopes started triggering small sluffs of wet, loose snow around this time on these aspects as well. SW winds helped keep some of the upper elevation SW-W aspects cooler. They stayed firmer into the late morning.