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
04/08/2019 - 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
04/04/2019 - 13:00 Johnson Canyon Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Cracking/punching on ascent Wet, granular snow on surface at lower elevation Rounds are ~2mm Hand pit showing saturated snow with ~2cm layer of newer snow on top Roller balls on East facing aspect across canyon Public
04/04/2019 - 12:15 Genoa Peak East Shore Area Snowpack Observation Rime covered tree in a windy location near Genoa Peak. Rime covered sastrugi growing into the west winds. Professional Observer
04/03/2019 - 14:30 Tamarack Lakes Trailhead Mount Rose Area Avalanche Observation Human triggered loose wet avalanches on Prolitariate Bowl. Loose wet avalanche activity on Fireplug. Forecaster
04/03/2019 - 12:00 Twin Peaks Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area Avalanche Observation This ski cut triggered D1 loose wet avalanche released on a NNW aspect at Debris from the ski cut triggered loose wet avalanche in the previous photo A ski cut triggered this loose wet sluff on a small test slope. The first pinwheel we triggered on a SE aspect at 7600 ft. Large pinwheels on a SE facing slope at 8300 ft. Recent natural loose wet activity on a NE facing slope between 7800 and 7400 ft. Snowpit showing new heavy snow on top of wet snow. Snowline was about 6800 ft. You can see snow in the trees above that elevation. Forecaster
04/03/2019 - 11:00 Ophir Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation ECTP-12 on wind slab 14'' deep. N aspect, 9200'. At 9700', N aspect small loose wet activity started to occur with hybrid slab characteristics. A series of rain crusts/wet snow during the storm with 2'' of snow on top. 8500', N aspect. Widespread small roller ball activity with ski turns below 8600'. Forecaster
04/03/2019 - 02:00 Trimmer Peak (South of Monument Peak) East Slope Outside of the Forecast Area Avalanche Observation Trimmer Peak East Slope Avalanches Public
04/02/2019 - 11:00 Donner Peak Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation D2 loose wet natural avalanche that ran 400-600'+. D1 loose wet natural avalanche Forecaster
04/02/2019 - 11:00 Andesite Peak Donner Summit Area Avalanche Observation Ski cut triggered D1.5-D2 Loose wet avalanche Ski kick triggered loose wet sluff on a steep test slope. Ski kick triggered loose wet sluff on a steep test slope. Barely covered rain runnels in a meadow. Forecaster
04/02/2019 - 10:00 Echo Lake Echo Summit Area Snowpack Observation A fleeting dash of blue this morning, showing the new snow on the ground and trees. Ski triggered loose wet roller ball activity on a steeper slope. Looking up at the ski triggered loose wet activity. Examining the new snow. Excavated line below the surface was the most wet layer. Recent cohesive roof shedding. I skinned right by this on 3/28 and the snow was still on the roof. Professional Observer
04/01/2019 - 11:00 Rubicon Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Ankle to shin deep boot pen at 9:30am at trailhead with a poor overnight refreeze. Cloud cover to the south of Rubicon Peak Cloud cover to the north of Rubicon Peak Forecaster

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