Observation Date: 04/03/2020

Route/Location:
Northeast bowl of castle crag

Weather:
Sunny, intermittent squalls

Wind:
Strong west wind at mid elevations, calm above 7000ft

New Snow: 12+”

Avalanche Activity:
As we’ve seen elsewhere, things are touchy right now. We observed numerous storm slab natural avalanches on slopes tilted to the northerly side of things. There is a LOT of new snow up high, somewhere from 2-3 feet, and it is not bonding well to the old snow surface on a lot of aspects.

Other Comments:
After a month (plus) of centerpuching everything in sight with impunity, the freedom of the hills has come to an end. I’ll reiterate what Ned said: DIAL IT BACK. The relative lack of snow in the last month has created a complex series of crusts and near-surface facet layers that are just now being tested. I’d treat it as a substantial persistent weak layer for the time being, and act accordingly.

Observer: Adam Pohl