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
05/02/2020 - 11:00 Red Lake Peak Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
05/02/2020 - 10:00 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Suncups on all aspects and elevations. A large previous cornice chunk at the bottom of slope from last week Large cracks along the backside of cornices Forecaster
05/01/2020 - 12:00 Round Top Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
05/01/2020 - 10:30 Mt. Houghton Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation A thin layer of ice over running water at 9:15 am from last night's refreeze. Open water at 9400 ft. Clear skies and decent snow coverage on high elevation northerly aspects. Areas of exposed rocks and dirt. The beginnings of sun cups on the snow surface. Areas of exposed dirt and running water in a creek. Forecaster
04/30/2020 - 10:30 Rubicon Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Small loose wet sluff on a short steep slope above a tree-well at 11 am. Below 7300 ft. very little snow remains. Shin deep wet snow on an E aspect at 9000 ft. at 11 am. Rocks and bare ground melting out on an E aspect at 8500 ft. Some firm uneven snow surfaces near the summit of Rubicon on wind-exposed N aspects at 10:30 am. Forecaster
04/29/2020 - 10:30 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Suncups on all aspects and elevations. Thin high cloud cover. Snowpack rapidly melting Forecaster
04/28/2020 - 11:00 Incline Lake Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Increased snow melt this past week with above average temperatures and sunny skies. Mostly supportable conditions on SE aspects before 10am. E aspects were deep and wet by 10am, all other aspects became unsupportable by 11am. Forecaster
04/28/2020 - 10:00 Pyramid Peak Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Snowpack Observation At 9am on a south facing slope at 8000 feet. Surface snow was supportable to skis but deeper snow was still wet. Small loose wet slide on steepest part of a slope. Multiple glide cracks on the east face of Pyramid. The previously observed avalanche on Price is still visible (it was more impressive in person, than it this photo). Crossing Echo Lakes by skis looks to be done for the season. The large cornice on Echo Peak has broken in a couple areas and sent large chunks down. Professional Observer
04/27/2020 - 11:15 Mt. Houghton Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Lots of bare ground on true S aspect terrain looking towards Mount Rose proper. Supportable snow surface conditions during the morning hours on E-SE aspects. High level cloud cover did little to slow melt rates this morning. Forecaster
04/27/2020 - 10:00 Forestdale Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/26/2020 - 10:30 Rubicon Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation 2 inch overnight surface refreeze with deep residual wet snow below. 145cm pole was easily pushed in. Still barely ski supportable on E aspect at ~8,800' at 10:30 am. 3 areas of glide cracks seen out in Desolation WIlderness. The closest, lowest one has enlarged in recent days. Rough snow surfaces on the northerly aspects of Rubicon Peak. Forecaster
04/26/2020 - 10:00 Forestdale Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/26/2020 - 09:45 Job's Peak Jaws Couloir East Shore Area Avalanche Observation Public
04/25/2020 - 10:30 Donner Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Recent loose wet avalanche activity and cornice collapses. Recent cornice fall. Soft edgeable snow at 8:30am on W aspects Deep wet snow on E aspects at 9:30am Forecaster
04/24/2020 - 10:00 Incline Lake Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation A ski cut on a small test slope triggered a small loose wet slide involving the top 6 inches of snow. A mix of wet spring snow and melted out areas on southerly aspects at 8600 ft. Wet snow on an E aspect at 9000 ft at 9:30 am. It was still ski supportable but not boot supportable. Forecaster

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