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
04/10/2019 - 14:00 Incline Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation 1"+ Wind affected but smooth cold new snow on higher 9400' N/NE aspects at 145p - Fog is from lens Smooth warm non-sticky South Facing turns to 8200' at 2p - supported on skis but shin deep w boots Public
04/10/2019 - 12:00 Blue Lakes Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Public
04/10/2019 - 12:00 Chickadee Ridge Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Wind sculpting and scouring exposing a firm crust along the ridge from the NE winds. The refrozen crust was thick, frozen, and supportable on a sunny south facing slope at noon. Patches of new snow less than .5 inches deep existed on top of the firm refrozen crust. In most places the crust was exposed on the surface. The thin veneer of new snow was scoured away from the exposed northerly aspects leaving a firm icy crust behind. Forecaster
04/10/2019 - 11:45 Hawk's Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Melted and refrozen crust w/ some wind effect Shallow wind scour + deposit 1-2cm of new snow atop frozen rain crust NE facing cornice break (Sunrise Bowl) E facing cornice break E facing cornice break Public
04/09/2019 - 14:30 Elephant's Back Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/09/2019 - 12:00 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Thin melting crust over wet deep wet snow on an E aspect at 10 am. No more crust just deep wet snow by noon on the same E aspect. Ski cut triggered loose wet sluff on a nearby E aspect at noon. Firm scoured rain crust near Wildflower Ridge Variable dust on crust and exposed crust conditions. The weather was a mix of snow squalls and sun. Forecaster
04/08/2019 - 23:00 Donner Peak Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation Forecaster
04/08/2019 - 23:00 Mt Judah Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation Cornice collapses that triggered loose wet avalanches and a slab failure The other side of the slab Debris at the bottom of the slope form both loose wet and the slab avalanche Another cornice failure near the true summit of Judah. Large chunks of debris at the bottom of this slope. Forecaster
04/08/2019 - 11:00 Incline Lake Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Small loose wet avalanches easily triggered on small test slopes, 11am, E aspect. 2x ECTP failing on top of old crust. 14'' deep total, with 8'' wind slab and 6'' of less dense snow below all on top of old crust. 1 cornice drop failed down to wind slab then down through less dense snow to crust-you can see step down in photo. Failure did not propagate beyond cornice chuck dropped. Skipen over knee deep at 8700' on E aspect at 11:30am. Full cloud cover with cloud deck around 10,000'. Forecaster
04/08/2019 - 02:45 South Fork, Creek Drainage Mount Rose Area Avalanche Observation Public
04/08/2019 - 01:00 Donner Peak Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation Public
04/07/2019 - 12:00 Stevens Peak Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Mostly sunny skies, warm temps, with thin high cloud cover and strong SW winds. ECTN on wind loaded test slope at 8900', NE aspect. Roller ball activity along with some small loose wet avalanches. Weak wet snow that failed with a ski turn on lower angle terrain. Forecaster
04/06/2019 - 12:30 Waterhouse Peak Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel) Avalanche Observation Public
04/06/2019 - 10:00 Andesite Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation About 4 inches of storm snow on top of weak crust and F hard wet snow at 7,300'. Minor cracking of wind slab. 35 cm of wind slab on top of weak crust and F hard wet snow. E aspect at about 8,100' in terrain with above treeline characteristics. Repeatable ECTP-12 down 25 cm within 35 cm of wind slab on E aspect at 8,100'. Foggy conditions above about 7,800'. Forecaster
04/05/2019 - 12:00 Mt. Tallac Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Snowpack Observation Minimal snow surface refreeze at trailhead at 10am (6,520'). Signs of small (D1) loose wet avalanches from past couple of days on E aspect. Signs of accumulating snowfall on crust at 7,800'. Signs of wind slab up to 6 inches deep upon nearing summit ridge in near treeline terrain. Wind slab on summit ridge a the top of Corkscrew avalanche path. 10 inch wind slab of upside down snow (4F+ to F hard) on top of P+ hard crust. Forecaster

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