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
03/16/2023 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Castle Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Cornice failure- D2 windslab. Note crack on ridge Shooting cracks near snow machine track and a number of avalanche deposits in background. Looking north from near summit of Castle Peak at toe of D3 r4 wind slab. Guide
Blackbird Mountain Guid
03/16/2023 - 12:15
Avalanche Observation 		Peak 8,426'
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Firm conditions on 6 inch thick P hard rain crust at 10 am. Two inches of surface wet snow on top of supportable crust on S aspect terrain at 12:15 pm near 7,500'. Natural avalanche from 3/14 - Hybrid wind slab/wet slab at 7,700' Additional wind slab/wet slab avalanches viewed in the distance looking down into Upper Pole Creek. Forecaster
03/16/2023 - 12:58
Avalanche Observation 		Tallac
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Public
03/16/2023 - 13:00
Avalanche Observation 		Polaris Bowl
Carson Pass Area 		Zero to 1" foot, ski, and track penetration due to knife hard crusts One of several recent avalanches. Alhtough a relatively small slope, this one did pile up high against trees and ran well into the trees Hard to say where the cornice ends and crown begins Another crown Debris piles in adjacent runouts Large cornices in the area Another large cornice Yet another large cornice Professional Observer
03/16/2023 - 14:00
Snowpack Observation 		Relay Ridge
Mount Rose Area 		Public
03/17/2023 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Maggie's Peaks
West Shore Area 		Old debris under the south couloir Public
03/17/2023 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Castle Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Firm rain crust with a dusting of soft snow on top of it. Rain runnels existed on most slopes below 8400 ft. Uneven icy surfaces existed on the ridges. Evidence of strong winds during the storm was widespread. Forecaster
03/17/2023 - 14:00
Snowpack Observation 		Plasse Trading Post
Carson Pass Area 		Knife hard crust everywhere we traveled today, well into the afternoon Water ice on trees indicating previous rain to at least 8600ft A previous avalanche under a cornice. Most of the debris is downhill in the trees, but it was too firm to walk any closer to the edge to try to get a better photo Drooping cornices with tensile cracks far back An inch of graupel above the firm snow Professional Observer
03/17/2023 - 16:00
Snowpack Observation 		Peak 8506
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Surface hoar at 8400'+ Public
03/18/2023 - 02:30
Snowpack Observation 		Slide Mountain, South Face
Mount Rose Area 		Surface hoar formed on a crust. Public
03/18/2023 - 11:30
Snowpack Observation 		Blue Lakes
Carson Pass Area 		Public
03/18/2023 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Woods Lake
Carson Pass Area 		Large surface hoard in open areas near tree line. Faint old crowns on the steep slopes above Woods Lake. Evidence of old slides. Broken limbs and snow plastered high on a tree in the runout Wavy textured snow covering old debris. Looking up towards Roundtop Multiple faint old crowns above Winnemucca Lake Professional Observer
03/18/2023 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Mount Judah
Donner Summit Area 		Public
03/19/2023 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Jake's Peak
West Shore Area 		Just after 7:00AM Hwy 89 by Jake's was clear and it wasn't snowing. Very small loose snow slide on the firm crust. Clouds starting to build Some graupel and rimed snow Visibility reduced significantly around midday as thicker clouds moved in. On lower elevation and slightly south facing terrain near noon the new snow was heavy and moving on the old crust in response to ski turns. Professional Observer
03/19/2023 - 12:45
Snowpack Observation 		Incline Peak NW
Mount Rose Area 		Ski cuts on below treeline terrain producing dry loose avalanches. Signs of developing wind slab problem. Cracking to the old/new snow interface indicating a developing storm slab problem. Cracking to the old/new snow interface indicating a developing storm slab problem. Forecaster

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