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
12/12/2020 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Grouse Rocks
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area 		1 cm thick rain crust at bottom of new snow from freezing rain event. Thin rain crust was supportable but easy to intentionally break through. Freezing rain deposited on trees. Freezing rain deposited on rocks, trees, and evenly across the old snow surface. Forecaster
12/05/2015 - 12:45
Snowpack Observation 		Chickadee Ridge
Mount Rose Area 		Forecaster
03/07/2019 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		ECTP on a lower density layer of storm snow on an open near treeline aspect at 8060 ft. Wind affected slope on the windward side of a ridge. Settlement cracks around a tree. A very deep tree well. Small cornice dropped on a small wind-loaded test slope with no additional results. Forecaster
02/21/2021 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Lincoln Ridge
Yuba Pass Area 		Wind scoured areas with exposed rain crust on the ridge. Surface hoar in open sheltered areas in the morning. Ice coated trees from the recent freezing rain event. Small signs of settlement around some trees. Looking at how the snow is changing around the recent rain crusts Forecaster
04/27/2023 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Relay Peak
Mount Rose Area 		East aspects off of the E ridge of Relay Peak. 4''+ supportable melt freeze crust P-1F hardness at 10:30am on E aspects Forecaster
11/28/2010 - 16:30
Snowpack Observation 		Pint Glass
Mount Rose Area 		Forecaster
12/29/2011 - 10:30
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Ridge
Donner Summit Area
Forecaster
01/06/2018 - 13:00
Snowpack Observation 		East Ridge Relay Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Large shooting cracks where storm snow sits on top of old near surface facets. 9400' N aspect.Same area as Photo #1. 9400' N aspect.ECTP11 on old near surface facets below the new storm snow. 9600' on N aspect in below treeline wind protected terrain. Forecaster
02/04/2022 - 12:15
Snowpack Observation 		Cathedral Peak
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Skier triggered tiny wet loose surface instability, but the most we have seen in several weeks. South aspects of Cathedral Peak melted out to unusable over the past two weeks. Forecaster
02/15/2010 - 10:42
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Houghton
Mount Rose Area 		Forecaster
02/14/2014 - 13:30
Snowpack Observation 		Blue Lakes Road
Carson Pass Area 		Forecaster
04/02/2020 - 15:00
Snowpack Observation 		Webber Peak and Lake of the Woods
Little Truckee Summit Areas 		Snowpit near Lake of the Woods Snowpits on Webber Lake Snowpit neat Webber Lake One of many ECTX's Recent roller balls and pinwheels on a NE aspect around 7400 ft. One of the pavement patches in the first few miles of the Jackson Meadows Rd. Forecaster
02/23/2013 - 12:45
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Ridge
Donner Summit Area 		Forecaster
01/02/2019 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Above Tom's Valley
Independence Lake Area 		Exposed, snomo ski breakable rain crust on ridgetop at ~8,100'. Old fracture failing down to the 12/22 rain crust. Faceted snow at this layer interface still shows problematic failure in snowpit tests. Forecaster
02/08/2017 - 23:00
Snowpack Observation 		Tamarack Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Settlement crack around a tree at 9000 ft. Small cornice pieces and ski kicks on wind loaded test slopes did not trigger cracking on the slopes. The cornice pieces just slide down on top of the slope.Rain runnels at 8900 ft. on a N aspect on Tamarack Peak. Forecaster

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