SBSP is, by choice, an exposed alpine site subject to winds of up to 90+ mph (40+ m/s). Wind effects are often present on the snow surface surrounding the mast. Trico Peak (13,321', 4,060m) is seen in the background, looking west. The single 40 watt photovoltaic panel seen at mid-mast charges a 400 amp-hour battery bank contained in a sub-snow-surface enclosure located some 10 meters from the mast.

Horizontal 'stiff arms' extending from the mast enable the transition from angled to vertical guywires to the ground anchors, thereby eliminating nearly all snow settlement stresses on the mast's guywires yet still providing a stable mast in high winds.

A hexagonal array of vertical, 3m (9.8') 'height-of-snow' (HS) measurement stakes is deployed around and 7.5m (24.6') from the mast to enable calculation of snow surface slope and aspect, improving the interpretation of reflected radiation being measured by the down-looking pyranometers. These HS stakes are read using binoculars, leaving the snow undisturbed.