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
03/25/2017 - 12:30

Avalanche Observation
Mt. Tallac-The Cross

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Skier descending onto slope before avalanche.
Looking down avalanche debris.
Looking up avalanche debris towards crown.
Part of the crown.
Forecaster
03/25/2017 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Mt. Tallac

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Rapid warming at 9am with full sun.  Loose wet activity occurring on E aspects.Previous wind slab activity from yesterday.  NE aspect, 9000'. Skier triggered loose wet activity, E aspect, 8400', at 11am.Skier triggered loose wet activity on NE aspect, 7500', at 11:15am. Forecaster
03/25/2017 - 11:30

Avalanche Observation
Cathedral Bowl Castle Peak

Donner Summit Area
Public
03/24/2017 - 11:30

Snowpack Observation
Incline Lake Peak

Mount Rose Area
Snow and wind starting in the morning hours.3-5'' wind slabs formed off of summit ridge on N aspects. Forecaster
03/23/2017 - 23:00

Snowpack Observation
Elephant's Graveyard

Carson Pass Area
Professional Observer
03/23/2017 - 14:00

Avalanche Observation
Lower Davis Creek

Mount Rose Area
Looking up the slide path 1500 vertical feet.
Looking down slide path 400 vertical feet
Public
03/23/2017 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Bronco Chutes

Mount Rose Area
Public
03/23/2017 - 12:30

Snowpack Observation
Jakes Peak

West Shore Area
Natural loose wet activity on E-SE-S aspects at 10:30am.Loose dry sluffing off of summit-NE aspect, 9200', 38 degree slope.Intentionally skier triggered wet loose avalanche.  E aspect, 40 degree convexity, sliding on m/f crust.Skier triggered loose wet avalanche on E face of Jakes.Small loose wet skier triggered at 7600', NE aspect, on small test slope. Forecaster
03/23/2017 - 11:30

Snowpack Observation
Tamarack Peak

Mount Rose Area
Several inches of recent storm snow along the ridgetop and available for transport as winds increase ahead of next storm.Small loose dry activity intentionally skier triggered on N aspect, approx 40 deg slope angle.Loose wet activity intentionally skier triggered on SE aspect at 9,000' at 11:30 am. Forecaster
03/22/2017 - 11:10

Snowpack Observation
Tamarck Peak

Mount Rose Area
Program Manager
03/22/2017 - 10:30

Snowpack Observation
Hidden Peak

West Shore Area
Minimal new snow on top of very rough melt-freeze/rain crust below 7,500'. Ski pole probe through 4 inches of surface crust into deep, not refrozen wet snow.Ski cuts on typically wind loaded test slopes along the summit ridge produced only small loose dry activity. Poor light, difficult to see shallow debris in photo. Forecaster
03/21/2017 - 10:30

Snowpack Observation
Tamarack Peak

Mount Rose Area
6 inches of new snow at 9,400' at 10:00am.Very minor cracking on wind loaded test slope at noted lat/long (NE aspect at 9,800').Repeatable ECTN results on 8 to 10 inch thick wind slab at noted lat/long, adjacent to minor cracking photo. Forecaster
03/20/2017 - 11:02

Snowpack Observation
South Gullies

Mount Rose Area
S aspects above 10k' did not soften due to gale force S winds at 11am. Small skier triggered loose wet activity within gully.Boot pen of 4-6'' at 8200', S aspect, at 11:30am. Forecaster
03/20/2017 - 09:00

Snowpack Observation
SE Gully on Waterhouse Peak

Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
At 8:30am, around 7200 feet on partially treed SE slope, the snow surface was soft and unfrozen.At 9:45am, around 8400 feet on an open SE slope, the snow surface was soft and a pole handle could easily penetrate about 20 cms.At 10:00am, around 9000 feet on open SE slope, the snow was cold and supportive due to consistent wind. A few trashcan size chunks of cornice appear to have broken off in the last day or two. Professional Observer
03/19/2017 - 14:00

Snowpack Observation
Genoa Peak

East Shore Area
Professional Observer

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