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
04/24/2020 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Incline Lake Peak
Mount Rose Area 		A ski cut on a small test slope triggered a small loose wet slide involving the top 6 inches of snow. A mix of wet spring snow and melted out areas on southerly aspects at 8600 ft. Wet snow on an E aspect at 9000 ft at 9:30 am. It was still ski supportable but not boot supportable. Forecaster
04/23/2020 - 12:30
Avalanche Observation 		Tallac - Cathedral Bowl
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		, Public
04/23/2020 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Little Roundtop
Carson Pass Area 		Crack near cornices. Cornices along the ridge to Little Roundtop. Boot penetration just after 11am on a NE aspect at 8700 feet. Previous broken cornice chunks along the ridge. Professional Observer
04/23/2020 - 09:45
Snowpack Observation 		Relay Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Creeks with flowing water melting out above 9000 ft. Punchy wet snow on the S/SE aspects (looker's left) - Still ski supportable snow on the SW aspect (looker's right) 3-4 inch refrozen crust this morning with several feet of wet snow below it. Forecaster
04/22/2020 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Forestdale
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/22/2020 - 09:30
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		Recent loose wet avalanche activity and cornice collapses. Deep unsupportable snow at 9:30am on E aspect at 7600'. Knee deep boot pen at 9:30am on E aspect at 7600'. Recent cornice fall on Mt. Judah Large cracks developing behind cornices as they sag from ridges. Forecaster
04/21/2020 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		East side Ralston Pk, Desolation Wilderness
Echo Summit Area 		Public
04/21/2020 - 11:15
Avalanche Observation 		Ralston Peak
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Fresh avalanche in the bowl between Ralston and Baldy/Peak 9155 Zoomed in view from Echo Peak. Photo of the area of the avalanche from the summit of Ralston about an hour before slide. Professional Observer
04/21/2020 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Rubicon Peak
West Shore Area 		Ankle deep boot pen before 11am on E aspect, 8200'. Rapidly warming and deteriorating, but still supportable conditions before 11am. Glide cracks developing out in Desolation Wilderness. Forecaster
04/21/2020 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Ralston Peak
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		At 8300 feet on an open south facing slope at 900am surface snow was firm, but softer wet snow was present below. Looking at the NW bowl of Ralston and previous loose wet activity. Possible baby glide cracks emerging from the lower portion of Ralston Bowl. Ascending towards Echo Peak around 1015am surface snow was softening so that boot were not always supportable. The large cornice just north of Echo Peak proper is dripping, sagging, and terrifying. Looking back from Echo at a recent avalanche near Ralston. The exit from Echo Peak requires some whitethorn wrangling and dirt walking. Professional Observer
04/20/2020 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Silver Peak
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Snow surface melt occurring despite substantial cloud cover. 5 inch surface melt-freeze crust over 3 feet of residual wet snow to ground. 2 inches of surface wet snow and a still ski supportable but weakening crust on E aspect at 8,000' at 10 am. Snowcover starting to increase at 7,000'. Forecaster
04/19/2020 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Relay Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Mostly cloudy skies did not appreciably slow snow surface melt on E-SE aspects this morning.. Open creeks with flowing water prior to the start of today's melt cycle. Drooping cornices with icicles from previous melt. E aspects in the 9,100' to 9,600' elevation range losing supportability around 10:30 am. Forecaster
04/19/2020 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Summit City
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
04/19/2020 - 10:00
Snowpack Observation 		Peak 9452
Carson Pass Area 		Firm surface conditions before 9am on open south facing slopes. While conditions were mostly supportable for ascending on skis, a few areas in dense treed areas were non-supportable. From the ridge looking into Meiss country, I spotted this one small previous loose wet slide on north facing slope. Descending around 10am, most aspects had about an inch of soft snow. Professional Observer
04/18/2020 - 10:15
Snowpack Observation 		Mt. Judah
Donner Summit Area 		Valley fog early this morning with building clouds. Small loose wet on E aspect at 10:15am. Wet unsupportable snow at 10am. Large sagging cornices along ridgelines. Cornice collapses and loose wet activity along the Lincoln/Anderson ridge. Forecaster

Pages