Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center

Pit dug in below treeline terrain just above site of March 4 deep slab avalanche to examine remnants of the February facet layer.

Dug in crown of deep slab avalanche that occurred on March 22. Avalanche failed at base of remains of Feb facet layer (32-40cm). Near treeline terrain.

Pit at crown of avalanche that happened sometime yesterday. The crown had about 12 inches of new snow on it.

Pit dug in below treeline, bordering on near treeline terrain. Test pit looking for any signs of residual storm slab instability.

Pit is at the crown of a skier triggered avalanche that occurred on March 17. The weak layer was the graupel on top of the melt-freeze crust at 200 cm. It varied in depth today from 60 to 90 cm below the surface. As I was climbing back out of the crown, I triggered a large whumpf that caused the slope ablve the crown to collapse but it did not slide. I was on belay.

Pit dug to examine the March 13 graupel layer on top of melt freeze crust combo that has caused deep slab avalanches in the Mt. Rose area. Layer was found in this area but was nonreactive with snowpack tests. Snow pit dug in near treeline terrain just below ridgeline.

Pit dug in crown of natural deep slab avalanche that most likely occurred on March 16. Near treeline terrain. 34 cm of storm snow covering bed surface at crown.

Pit dug on below treeline wind protected road cut where loose dry avalanche (D1) was intentionally skier triggered from the top. Looking for storm slab. Very quick test pit. Did not use magnification to identify crystal types.