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
04/12/2022 - 11:30
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Frog Lake Ridge
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/11/2022 - 13:00
Snowpack Observation 		Lincoln Ridge
Yuba Pass Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Red Lake Peak
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/10/2022 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Tamarack Peak
Mount Rose Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Rubicon Peak
West Shore Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Tallac
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		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
Snowpack Observation 		Mt Houghton
Mount Rose Area 		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
04/03/2022 - 13:00
Snowpack Observation 		Round Top
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/02/2022 - 14:00
Snowpack Observation 		Hungalelti Ridge
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/02/2022 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		Snowmelt has exposed many more rocks and other obstacles especially on sunny slopes. This is a west aspect at about 7400 ft. Some fissures are starting to melt out above the E facing slopes near the summit of Judah. Large areas of bare ground are now exposed on the south facing slopes. Finding continuous snow on south facing slopes has become more challenging. The snow on sunny slopes started to get unsupportable around noon on S facing aspects. Boot top deep wet snow near a waterfall that has melted out at about 7600 ft on a south aspect. Forecaster

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