Snotel site near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9600')

Storm totals at the Gold Basin study plot (10,000')

Snowpack Discussion In our travels to the east side of the range on Sunday, pro observer Nate Ament and I continued to observe signs of instability such as cracking and collapsing. We also observed a general deterioration of the shallow snowpack. Below treeline, the entire snowpack is starting to lose cohesion with the overriding slab beginning to disintegrate as well. Near treeline, the overriding slab is stiffer and more sensitive. Above treeline, the snow in many areas has been ravaged by the wind, and scoured surfaces alternate with smooth, hard slabs and crusts. Conditions are deceiving due to the overall lack of coverage and the general inaccessibility of avalanche terrain, but if you went searching for an avalanche you could still most certainly find one. Pro observer Dave Garcia sums it up like this, "if I attempted to ski anything that has enough snow to actually make turns I would most likely trigger an avalanche." The video below illustrates the current conditions.