Sierra Avalanche Center | Backcountry Avalanche, Snow, and Weather Information for the greater Lake Tahoe area

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Recent Observations:

Old snow under the new was still quite soft and even with only 4-6" of new snow the riding was excellent

Buried surface hoar

An ECT with partial propagation, just lacking more of a slab

Charity Valley

01/29/2023 - 15:00

Snowpack Observation

Southeast of Webber Lake

01/29/2023 - 13:15

Avalanche Observation

Surface hoar buried under 10 to 12 inches of cold, soft, and light wind-blown snow near Lincoln Ridge.

Buried surface hoar was easy to identify in hand pits.

Ski kicks triggered some cracking in wind-blown areas and in sheltered areas where buried surface hoar existed.

Small cornices built by NE winds on W and SW aspects.

Small slab failure on a steep test slope.

Loose dry sluff of new snow on top of surface hoar.

Lincoln Ridge

01/29/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation

Wind hammered surfaces in open terrain

Variable conditions

Soft snow in protected areas

Near Webber lake

01/28/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation

Powderhouse Peak

01/28/2023 - 11:00

Snowpack Observation

Large SH in areas adjacent to the FS 12 Rd.

Large SH in areas adjacent to the FS 12 Rd.

Knocked down and slightly melted SH along the ridgetop near 7,600'.

NE aspect avalanche terrain near 7,600' with widespread knocked over, slightly melted 8 to 10 mm SH.

8 to 10 mm SH knocked over, no longer upright in NE aspect avalanche terrain near 7,600'.

Lincoln Ridge

01/28/2023 - 10:30

Snowpack Observation

Moist near surface facets at 8,400' on shaded N aspect terrain.

Trimmer Peak

01/27/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation

Note the contrast between steep slopes with a rough texture and steep slopes that are smooth

Rough snow in the foreground and smooth, firm snow in the background

Where I broke through the sastrugi, I checked under the firm snow to find small facets underneath

Small, angular, and weak facets under the wind packed snow

Winnemucca Lake

01/27/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation

Maggies Peak

01/27/2023 - 09:30

Snowpack Observation

8 to 9 mm surface hoar across NE aspect near treeline avalanche terrain.

8 to 9 mm SH at the spot of photo 1 looking across avalanche terrain.

Some of the largest surface hoar we encountered today at 20-25mm.

Lincoln Ridge

01/26/2023 - 11:00

Snowpack Observation

Wind carved snow in near treeline terrain on Price Peak.

Wind affected snow surfaces were widespread on Chickadee Ridge.

Wind scouring and sculpting near the top of Chickadee Ridge

Chickadee Ridge

01/26/2023 - 11:00

Snowpack Observation

the ridge on the south of crater lake, showing an old crown

Red Lake Peak

01/26/2023 - 10:30

Snowpack Observation

Large feathered surface hoar.

Hard melt freeze crusts on solar aspects above 7600'.

Mid-slope wind drift.

Wind effected snow in open areas below treeline.

Surface hoar factory near Pickett Peak

01/26/2023 - 10:26

Snowpack Observation

A shovel tilt test showing buried surface hoar at the right depth to be the failure layer of a nearby previous avalanche. Further testing showed it to be unreactive

A previous avalanche on a NE aspect at 8800ft. Zoom in to crown and it's not very weather worn

During the calm morning, surface hoar growing where E winds recently blew

Stevens Peak

01/25/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation

Calm and sunny conditions in the morning.

Surface hoar and some near surface faceting in wind protected BTL areas.

Wind scouring along ridgeline

Thin sun crusts with cold snow underneath on southerly aspects.

Shallenberger Ridge

01/25/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation

Little truckee meadows

01/25/2023 - 09:30

Snowpack Observation

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