These observations document past conditions at a small and variable scale. They are not to be confused with an avalanche forecast. They come from a variety of sources. We can only vouch for the quality of those produced by the SAC forecasters and professional observers.
Date and time of observation or avalanche occurrence Location Media Observation made by
12/12/2020 - 15:00
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Educator
Alpenglow Expeditio
01/13/2016 - 11:00
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area
Forecaster
03/19/2021 - 13:20
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Public
02/04/2017 - 14:00
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Clouds starting to break up after 3pm. Guide
Tahoe Mountain Scho
02/26/2018 - 12:30
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Cracking along ridge line Steep below tree line test slope displayed minimal cohesion in response to kicking. Guide
Tahoe Mountain Scho
03/19/2020 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Partially covered avalanche crown. Partially covered right flank. Avalanche debris ran downslope through the first set of trees. Forecaster
02/24/2017 - 10:45
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Educator
Donner Summit Avalanche Semina
02/03/2021 - 08:30
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Checking out the soft snow this wind slab failed on. Skier triggered avalanche on a wind-loaded test slope. Skier triggered shooting cracks on the wind-loaded test slope before it avalanched. Soft (fist hard) snow below the dense (1 finger hard) wind slab. Skier triggered cornice failure on a test slope. Small settlement cracks in sheltered below treeline terrain. Forecaster
02/10/2019 - 02:00
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Forecaster
12/13/2017 - 11:30
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Pit location adjacent to and above pit from Dec 6. (Skis/pack in old pit.) Forecaster
11/15/2022 - 14:00
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		East winds scouring east facing slopes and blowing snow onto west facing slopes. A small shallow pocket of wind-drifted snow on the west side of Andesite. It did not extend very far away from the ridge and it was difficult to make it crack. I had to under cut it first. More east wind transport along the summit of Andesite Peak This image shows some buried surface hoar mixed in with other snow grains. I found this thin layer about 3-4 inches (10cm) below the surface in a meadow. Forecaster
03/17/2018 - 12:30
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		The second of two intentionally skier triggered wind slabs in E aspect terrain above treeline. The first of two intentionally skier triggered wind slabs in E aspect terrain above treeline. Two foot crown. 1.75 m (5.75 ft) of storm snow. CTH results with broken failure planes within the storm snow. ECTX in same pit. Signs of storm snow settlement on tree cones at 10am. The second of the two triggered wind slabs. Initial efforts created loose dry. Once the wind slab was triggered from a more prime location, the slab propagated back through the area that had previously failed as loose dry closer to the snow surface. Forecaster
12/01/2022 - 14:42
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Public
02/25/2017 - 13:04
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Guide
Tahoe Mountain Scho
04/16/2018 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Small wind slab triggered by large cornice drop on a ENE facing test slope at 8040 ft. See video. Small 1 to 4 inch slab triggered on an E facing test slope @ 8040 ft. that had just received a short period of sun-exposure The other side of the small slab triggered on the E facing test slope. New snow and some wind-loading filling in the skin track @ 8160 ft. About 30 cm (1 ft) of new snow resting on top of a moist crust on top of wet snow in a meadow at 7500 ft. Forecaster

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