Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center

Pit dug on near treeline slope deeply fractured from current deep slab problem. Slope likely human triggered and fractured on March 4. Pit dug just above highest fracture line on low angle portion of slope.

Snowpit dug in below treeline terrain to compare results to previous observation on buried facet layer. Instability on the buried facet layer was limited with snowpack tests which was an improvement from past observations in this same area. 2x ECTX specific to buried facet layer at 146cm.

Pit dug in one of many shooting cracks that existed on either side of the avalanche. This avalanche was triggered 80 min earlier while digging a snowpit in lower angle terrain approx 500' to the west of the avalanche. This pit data was collected on the eastern side of the avalanche approx 1,000' away from the triggering pit location.

All snowpit work performed by Andy Anderson. Pit dug in below treeline terrain adjacent to avalanche path start zone.

Very small natural wind slab activity in the most heavily wind loaded terrain. Wind slabs were easy to intentionally trigger but propagation was limited. Buried near surface facets are not showing much reactivity with snowpack tests and informal observations.

Snowpit dug in near treeline terrain with some NW-NE wind exposure.

Pit dug in open, wind sheltered below treeline terrain.