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
04/04/2018 - 11:45 Elephants Hump Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Ankle deep boot penetration on an E aspect at 8000 ft. at 12:45 pm. Propogation saw test targetting the Feb facets (the layer my finger is pointing to). The test failed about 1/3 of the way through the column (where the saw is stuck into the block) indicating that fractures can propogate along the weak layer. (PST 50/150 END down 146cm) The Feb. facets that have rounded but still remain a loose layer buried deep in the snowpack. Forecaster
04/03/2018 - 11:00 Jakes Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Forecaster
04/02/2018 - 13:00 Mt. Tallac Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Snowpack Observation Relatively smooth and supportable conditions at the upper elevations. Below 8000' on E aspects at 12:30pm, unsupportable 6-10'' of snow existed on top of talus slopes. Skier triggered D1 in treed area. Forecaster
04/01/2018 - 11:45 Red Lake Peak Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Limited signs of loose wet instabilities at 11:45am on East Face gullies. Snow was mostly supportable with 3-4'' of wet snow at 8000' at 11:45am. Forecaster
03/31/2018 - 14:30 Donner Peak Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Guide
Tahoe Mountain School
03/31/2018 - 11:30 Silver Peak Snowpack Observation Skis started punching deeper (10 to 15 cm) into the wet snow on a SE and E aspect at 6800 ft at noon. Pole probes showed 25 to 30 cm of wet snow. Forecaster
03/31/2018 - 10:45 Silver Peak Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Snowpack Observation Site of crown profile. 1 of 3 deep slab avalanches on N aspect terrain along the E ridge of SIlver. PST prepped to test Feb facets that was the failure layer in the avalanche. Another of 3 deep slab avalanches on N aspect terrain along the E ridge of SIlver. Forecaster
03/31/2018 - 10:30 Incline Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Cracking and hollowed out snow along cornice Chuncks of broken cornice Public
03/30/2018 - 11:30 Chickadee Ridge Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Skier triggered pinwheels on a SE aspect at 8500 ft. at 11:20 am. Boot top deep wet snow on a SE aspect at 8500 ft. at 11:20 am. 4 to 6 inch deep ski penetration into wet snow on S aspect at 8800 ft. at noon. Forecaster
03/30/2018 - 11:00 Stevens Peak Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation 25 cm of snow surface refreeze on at 8,000' on E aspect at 10:50am Supportable crust, just entering melt phase at ~9,000' at 11:25am. Skier triggered roller ball at 8,100' on E aspect at 12:20pm. Forecaster
03/30/2018 - 10:00 Angora Peak Echo Summit Area Snowpack Observation Boot penetration to the ground at 830am on a south facing slope at 6700 feet. Surface was still frozen, with less than 1cm ski penetration. On a north facing aspect, there was a crust but soft wintery (near surface facets) below. South facing slopes around 8300 feet were soft and almost corn at 10:30am. The sound of running water was loud coming down Angora bowl onto Angora lake. Professional Observer
03/29/2018 - 10:00 Mt. Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Runnels in the snow surface indicating drainage and melting. 2 to 3 cm of corn snow on a supportable crust at 10:15 am at 7800 ft. on a SE aspect Wet snow below the frozen melt freeze crust on a SSE aspect Wind scoured surfaces on a NE aspect Breakable crust on a sheltered N aspect at 7800 ft. Forecaster
03/29/2018 - 10:00 Ralston south side Echo Summit Area Snowpack Observation Public
03/28/2018 - 11:00 Jake's Peak West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Roller balls, Pinwheels, and loose wet sluffs triggered on a E-NE aspect at 8600 ft. at 10:45 am Ski cut triggered pinwheels and roller balls on an E aspect at 9040 ft. at 11:15 am. Ankle deep wet surface snow on a SW aspect at 7500 ft. at 10:30 am. Forecaster
03/28/2018 - 09:30 Flagpole Peak Echo Summit Area Snowpack Observation By 9am rollerballs and small loose wet activity was occurring naturally off steep rock faces. Large old crown across entire lower pitch of Ralston peak. Loose wet ski cut results before 10am on east facing terrain. Professional Observer

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