Castle Lake Update

A skier with a positive attitude may still find some worthy lines at Castle Lake, but if your standards are high, look to higher ground. Access to Middle Peak is best attained via Left Peak. The ice on the lake is untrustworthy and difficult to access due to water and weak ice along the edges. Right peak is blocked by fields of manzanita.

The snow depth ranges from 0 to 24 inches. Up to an inch of soft snow sits atop a firm underlayer in the afternoon hours. Though some smooth snow remains, much of it is becoming sun-cupped.

The trail to Heart Lake is covered in snow, but well-trodden, compacted, with no boot penetration. If you have no skis or snowshoes, you could probably walk it with some shoes with deep treaded soles.

See photos below for more details.