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
12/24/2021 - 09:48
Avalanche Observation 		East of Silver Peak
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Public
12/23/2021 - 17:00
Snowpack Observation 		Burnt Glades
Echo Summit Area 		Public
12/23/2021 - 13:00
Snowpack Observation 		Powderhouse
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel) 		Periods of blizzard conditions. 3-4" of new snow @ 7600' @ 10:00am Pit profile. ECTP 29 that did not repeat itself in two more tests after. Large Facet trending towards rounding at bottom of pack. Moist semi-compressible snow within the bottom 30cm. Skin track filling in fast from blowing snow. Professional Observer
12/23/2021 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Andesite Peak
Donner Summit Area 		The largest wind slab we saw. It was triggered by a backpack size piece of cornice kicked onto the slope. Another view of that same avalanche. The crown was about 1 ft deep at the deepest. Two smaller wind slab on a nearby test slope. The lower one was triggered by a ski kick and the upper one by an oven sized piece of cornice. Alternate view of the test slope avalanches. The crown height on these was between 8 and 12 inches. Forecaster
12/23/2021 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Elephant's Hump
Carson Pass Area 		Professional Observer
12/22/2021 - 13:30
Snowpack Observation 		North Carson Pass
Carson Pass Area 		Large cornice build up and recent debris pile. Shovel tilt displaying top 10cm of new snow failing on buried surface hoar. Top 10cm of snow wet and compressible. Intermittent waves of sunshine and snow throughout the day. Precipitation particles were mostly small flakes and sometimes small ice pellets like shown here. Professional Observer
12/22/2021 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Tamarack Peak
Mount Rose Area 		6-8 inch deep wind slab on a small wind-loaded test slope. Newly formed 6-8 inch deep wind slab on a small wind-loaded test slope. Another small wind slab failure on a wind-loaded test slope. Skier triggered shooting crack in a wind-loaded area near the ridge. Forecaster
12/21/2021 - 22:35
Snowpack Observation 		Independence Lake
Independence Lake Area 		Snow available for transport. Skin track re-fill Wind effect. Public
12/21/2021 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Deep Creek
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Dropping a firm cornice block onto a slope with minor cracking. Large surface hoar observed on northerly aspects below 7000' View into upper Pole Creek Wind affected surfaces near the ridgeline. Wind affected surfaces near the ridgeline. ECTN results while testing the hard wind slab on a wind-loaded test slope. Forecaster
12/20/2021 - 15:00
Snowpack Observation 		Blackwood Canyon
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area 		Public
12/20/2021 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Incline Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Evidence of blowing and drifting snow from yesterday. 1F+ hard wind slab over F hard old snow. 1F+ hard wind slab over F hard old snow with ECTP-8 result. Forecaster
12/20/2021 - 11:00
Snowpack Observation 		Silver Peak
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		ECTP-12 on a P hard wind slab over 4F softer snow, 1 foot deep. N aspect, 30 degree slope, just off ridgeline. New small wind deposits cracking with the weight of a skier No cornices built out on this ridge with wind scouring occurring 40-60 feet downslope Raised tracks and wind texture in open areas well below treeline terrain Forecaster
12/20/2021 - 10:30
Snowpack Observation 		Crater Lake Road
Carson Pass Area 		Reverse skin tracks in open areas Cracks propagating through wind slab on test slope Stevens Peak is quite wind-scoured Public
12/20/2021 - 06:30
Snowpack Observation 		Lower Scott peak
Five Lakes Area 		Public
12/19/2021 - 23:00
Snowpack Observation 		Carpenter Ridge
Independence Lake Area 		Wind transport at 10:30AM. Old snowmobile track Wind loading with strong SW winds. Boot penetration to boot top. Illustrates snow available for transport. Small wind slab 8-10cm. Possible old crown. Distance and lighting minimized our ability to discern details. Arrows indicate crown. Public

Pages