Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center

Snowpack in very good condition for additional load from series of incoming storms.

Upside down snowpack from cold to warm storm. Density changes more pronounced in other areas with more snow and wind effects. Snow coverage is marginal at this point and confined to Northerly aspects.

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.