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 Region Observation Type Photos Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos Snowpit videos (tests, etc) Observation made by
04/13/2022 - 12:30 Tamarack Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Small roller balls on an E aspect at noon. Cracks around a very small wind crust Bushes are still exposed on S aspects. Skies were partly cloudy for most of the day. Lenticular clouds indicating increased winds. Forecaster
04/12/2022 - 16:00 The Nipple Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/12/2022 - 11:33 Round Top Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation 4" of new snow @ 8500' Variable conditions of wind scoured and powder surfaces. Graupel layer exposed from wind erosion. ~30cms of new snow @ 9000' New/old snow interface seems to be bonding. Snow coverage on Round Top. Graupel and preserved stellars about 35cms down. Professional Observer
04/12/2022 - 11:30 Andesite Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Strong sun made the new snow wet enough for a ski cut to cause the wet new snow to slide down this small SE-facing test slope @ ~7600 ft at 11:30 am. ECTN results on a wind-loaded test slope. A ski kick caused this previously undercut wind-loaded test slope to crack. Slopes that had not been undercut did not crack. Forecaster
04/11/2022 - 17:00 Frog Lake Ridge Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/11/2022 - 13:00 Lincoln Ridge Yuba Pass Area Snowpack Observation Poor bonding between the new snow and the icy crusts below it. Skier triggered shooting cracks on a wind-loaded test slope. Ripples in the snow surface. My 3 in deep skin track filled in in about 1.5 hours. The new snow barely covers obstacles on S-SW aspects. Forecaster
04/10/2022 - 12:00 Red Lake Peak Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
04/10/2022 - 10:00 Andesite Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Ridges and sunny aspects melted out limiting terrain options. By mid morning cloud cover started to decrease with more solar radiation. Treed areas littered with down trees, branches, pine needles, etc. Trailhead melting out near the gate. Forecaster
04/09/2022 - 11:00 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Good spring conditions on East aspects before 11am. Good supportability this morning before 11am. Large and deep fissure along Judah ridgeline Forecaster
04/08/2022 - 11:08 Tamarack Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Snow coverage on different aspects with photo facing N. East aspects that we skied with good coverage and supportable conditions. Cloud cover over Mt. Rose and Carson Range this morning into the early afternoon. Clear and sunny conditions over the Sierra Crest. Forecaster
04/07/2022 - 11:20 Rubicon Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Ascending N aspect terrain, 1F- hard surface crust in melt phase at 10:50 am. E aspect with mushy, cohesive, but still ski supportable conditions at 8,700' at 11:15 am. E aspect at 8,600' at 11:20 am, boot penetration into wet snow increasing. Forecaster
04/06/2022 - 10:30 Andesite Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Good coverage and smooth surfaces exist on open E facing aspects on Andesite Ridge. 1-2 inches of soft wet corn snow had formed on the E aspects by 10:30 am. These slopes also still had a supportable 6-8 in thick frozen melt freeze crust below the wet surface snow. Very uneven snow surfaces existed in some areas. More dirt and debris continues to appear as the snow melts. Lots of dirt showing on the SW side of Castle Peak. Impressive amounts of debris exist on the snow surface in wooded areas. Forecaster
04/05/2022 - 11:45 Mt. Tallac Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Snowpack Observation Thinning snowcover in the Corkscrew avalanche path, E aspect 6,600' to 9,100'. Ski penetration never exceeded 2 inches prior to our noon departure. Forecaster
04/04/2022 - 10:30 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Consistent cloud cover throughout the morning hours Judah Ridge. Good coverage on E aspects at 8,000' with little to no snow on W aspects. S face of Judah. Just barely enough snow to ski today. Tomorrow? HS=6 feet at 8k on E aspect. P hard 6-8" M/F crust on top of 4F wet grains 3' deep. Surface snow is covered with tree shrapnel with declining snow coverage below 7500'. Forecaster
04/03/2022 - 13:00 Mt Houghton Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Lots of bare ground showing on a SW aspect at 8700 ft. The snow remained supportable on N aspects until my departure around 2 pm. Southerly aspects on Mt Rose are almost completely snow free. Areas of deep and unsupportable wet snow started to exist on E aspects by 1 pm. Snow continues to melt on SE aspects above 9500 ft on Mt Houghton. The corridors of snow in the gullies are getting narrower. N, NE, and E aspects still have decent coverage on Relay Peak. Forecaster

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