Please remember that these observations indicate what was going on in the snowpack at a single point in time and space. They may not represent conditions where you are or where you plan to be. They also come from a variety of sources. SAC cannot vouch for the quality or accuracy of any observations that come from the general public. Some of these may be professional quality observations; some may not. Please use observations listed on this page as part of your information gathering process, but as always don't make decisions based on a single piece of information. If you are looking for more information on how to understand the information on this page, all of the pit data graphs and stability tests are part of what is presented in a Level II avalanche class that follows the American Avalanche Association (AAA) or American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) curriculum guidelines. All of the coding and abbreviations for data presented follows the publication Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States (SWAG) which is the standard for all professional avalanche programs in the US. An electronic copy is available here. Most of what you are looking for is in Chapter 2 and Appendix F part 1. We use a program called SnowPilot to create the snowpit graphs. It is available as an online tool or as a downloadable program at http://www.snowpilot.org/. This website also has a quick video and user guide on how to use create snowpits. Please send us your observations using the buttons below.
Date and time of observation or avalanche occurrence Location Region Observation Type Photos Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos Snowpit videos (tests, etc) Observation made by
05/26/2019 - 12:15 Castle Peak Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation wind slab failure on a small test slope Public
05/22/2019 - 09:00 Kirkwood Carson Pass Area Avalanche Observation Blowing snow and wind scouring on ridges Public
04/28/2019 - 07:30 Jakes Peak West Shore Area Avalanche Observation Public
04/20/2019 - 15:15 Negro Canyon Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Public
04/20/2019 - 14:15 Donner Summit Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation recent cornice fall on a NE aspect @ 7500 beautiful rightside-up snowpack Educator
Tahoe Mountain School
04/20/2019 - 11:00 Rubicon Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Morning sun prior to about 10:15 am. Wet snow with no refreeze on W aspect at about 7,300'. Thin, breakable surface crust (weak refreeze) on N aspects at 8,100' and above. Increase to 100% cloud cover and snow/rain showers at 10:30 am. Sluffing of wet surface snow on E aspect at 8,000'. Ski cuts on small test slopes showing the presence of the loose wet avalanche problem. Forecaster
04/19/2019 - 10:30 Yuba Pass Yuba Pass Area Snowpack Observation 1.5 inches of very week surface crust remaining at 10 am. Deep boot penetration in sunny flats at 10 am. Wet snow surface sluffing, moving in the direction of loose wet instability. Deep, unsupportable wet snow with no signs of any remaining refreeze at 10:50 am. Forecaster
04/18/2019 - 10:30 Rose Knob Mount Rose Area Avalanche Observation Knee deep wet snow on an ENE aspect at 8700 ft. at 10:45 am. Ankle deep wet snow at the trail head at 9 am. Boot top deep wet snow on a SE aspect at 8600 ft. at 9:45 am D1 Loose wet avalanche that happened yesterday afternoon. Forecaster
04/18/2019 - 10:30 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation 10:30am on East aspect at 8200' was wet and punchy snow with shin deep boot pen. Loose wet activity was limited in the morning even with unsupportable snow conditions. Widespread loose wet avalanche activity over the past week on steep slopes. Forecaster
04/17/2019 - 11:30 Stevens Peak Carson Pass Area Avalanche Observation D1 loose wet on an E facing slope on Stevens Skier triggered rollerballs and pinwheels Boot top deep wet snow with a ski supportable but not boot supportable crust. Wind affected colder snow on the ridge above 9300 ft. Forecaster
04/16/2019 - 11:00 Hidden Peak West Shore Area Avalanche Observation Intentionally skier triggered loose wet avalanche size D1.5. E aspect, 8500', 35 + degree slope. Small roller ball activity from ski turns involving the recent 3-4'' of new snow. Below 8000' at 10am, 2-3'' of new snow on top of 4F wet snow. Little to no overnight refreeze at lower elevations below 8000'. Minor cracking in wind loaded terrain. Wind transported snow was limited to near ridgelines and did not extend downslope very far. E face of Crag Peak. Small D1 natural loose wet avalanches that occurred by 11am this morning. Forecaster
04/16/2019 - 09:30 Powderhouse Peak Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel) Snowpack Observation Less than an inch of new snow just below 8000 feet. Above tree line there was very minor cracking in wind loaded areas. Small cohesive chunks broke on test slopes, but no larger propagation observed. Professional Observer
04/15/2019 - 11:30 Jakes Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Mostly cloudy skies with some partial sun breaks. 8000', E aspect, at 11:15am. 1-2'' of soft wet snow on top of a 2'' 1f MF crust on top of more wet snow. Forecaster
04/14/2019 - 14:00 Angora Peak Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/14/2019 - 11:30 Silver Peak Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Snowpack Observation Mostly cloudy skies with some sun breaks. Looking south along the Crest through the Tahoe Basin. Potentially more sun further south. Thick cloud cover to the west of the Silver Peak at 11:20am. Forecaster

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