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
03/31/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Little Alaska

Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Public
03/31/2023 - 10:00

Snowpack Observation
Flagpole Peak

Echo Summit Area
Open east facing slopes around 7000 feet had a completely supportable crust at 9:00AM There were several large old wet loose slides on and adjacent to Flagpole. At the time I took this photo there were plumes of wind driven snow swirling around the summit and over the old wet loose debris. On a more NE aspect at about 7500 feet there was still nearly a foot of cold powdery snow. Looking towards Ralston. The winds were strong near the summit and blowing moderate amounts of snow. The SE side of this generally E facing gully had evidence of previous wet loose activity that ran for nearly 1000 feet. Professional Observer
03/30/2023 - 13:30

Avalanche Observation
Eureka Peak

Outside of the Forecast Area
Public
03/30/2023 - 12:30

Avalanche Observation
Hidden Peak

West Shore Area
Built out cornices and ridgeline with small wind slab avalanches. Small reactive wind slabs failing with a ski kick. Small reactive ski kicks failing with a ski kick. 8"+ of low density snow along ridgeline available for transport if winds increase tonight and tomorrow. Snowpack tests did not find any layers of concern at noted Lat/Long in ob.  8000' on NE aspect. View into Desolation Wilderness for a very impressive snowpack.  Some roller balls and point releases can be seen in the photo. Sun crusts forming on sun exposed slopes, E-SE aspects. Forecaster
03/30/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Peak 9200 aka "Whites Creek Butte"

Outside of the Forecast Area
Public
03/30/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Blue lakes

Carson Pass Area
Public
03/30/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Mt. Judah and Trestle Peak

Donner Summit Area
Dropping cornice blocks onto wind sloaded slopes did not produce additional signs of unstable wind slabs. Large pieces of cornice dropped on this test slope did not trigger any wind slab failures. The cornices along the summit Ridge of Mt. Judah were massive. We stayed well away from them. ski cuts triggered rollerballs and pinwheels on sunny slopes by midday. One of several snowpit tests at various locations targeting the old buried weak layers. None of them produced unstable results. Recent storm slab avalanches on lower Trestle peak. Cloud cover building over the mountains around noon. Forecaster
03/30/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Mt. Rose

Mount Rose Area
Public
03/30/2023 - 10:10

Avalanche Observation
Tallac

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Public
03/29/2023 - 13:07

Snowpack Observation
Near Webber lake

Little Truckee Summit Areas
Public
03/29/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Powderhouse Peak

Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Small sluff on a steep above tree line test slope Small crack on undercut above tree line test slope Hard to see in the photo, but there is a large crown in center of image on north bowl of Stevens Peak Multiple tracks along the corniced summit ridge but I didn't observe any cracks or slabs triggered There were a couple incredibly deep tree wells next to the skin track. Professional Observer
03/29/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Silver Peak

Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
when I stepped onto this wind-loaded area on a low angle slope, I triggered shooting cracks the traveled 20+ ft out onto the larger slope. Skier triggered cracking in a wind-loaded test slope. Blowing snow refilled our tracks on the ridge after about an hour. The weather oscillated between snow showers and calm periods with breaks of sun. Some cracking that occured in a sheltered area where the thin sun crust below the new snow broke and collapsed on softer snow below it. Forecaster
03/29/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Blue Lakes

Carson Pass Area
Previous and current winds were sculpting the surface snow The grey stripe is a light crust with weak snow next to it Surface hoar remaining intact and reactive to snowpack tests Surface hoar remaining intact and reactive to snowpack tests Wind loaded test slopes did not produce results Professional Observer
03/28/2023 - 16:45

Avalanche Observation
Echo Peak

Echo Summit Area
Public
03/28/2023 - 11:30

Avalanche Observation
Lincoln Ridge

Yuba Pass Area
Small reactive wind slab failures.  Small reactive wind slab failures on test slopes. Small wind slab avalanche on small slope near ridgeline. Intense blowing snow in near treeline terrain. Cracking around skis on uptrack showing storm slab instability. ECTN on layers down to the March 14 rain layer. Forecaster

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