Lawinenlagebericht

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

You can trigger slab avalanches near and above treeline where strong westerly winds recently drifted snow. You may also encounter loose avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes. Use caution on slopes steeper than 35 degrees while the recent snow continues to bond.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    You can avoid these avalanches by sticking to slopes that are less than 35 degrees and sheltered from the wind or scoured. Steer around obvious pillows and drifts and stay off of slopes with overhanging cornices. Look for wind features, cornices, and thick pillows of snow to indicate which slopes were loaded by the wind in the past couple of days. Use your probe to feel for stiffer, deeper drifted slabs. Even in wind-sheltered terrain at lower elevations, there's still a chance of triggering an avalanche in very steep, unsupported terrain.  

    Since February 3rd, 2.5 feet of snow accumulated near the top of Stevens Pass. In places, you may still be able to trigger older slabs that formed early on the 8th and could be up to 4 feet deep. Expect freshly formed, shallow slabs to be easier to trigger and to form Thursday night. 

    (2/8/2023)

    The crown of a large natural avalanche that likely ran in the early morning of Feb 8th on a wind-loaded slope outside of Stevens Pass Resort. Upper Mill Creek, NE, 5,400ft

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    If you see rollerballs or moist snow surfaces, consider moving to lower-angled or more shaded terrain. Wet avalanches could come down from steep overhead terrain. Snow surfaces may get wet and sticky in the afternoon with sun and warming temperatures. It's also possible that these avalanches may not be a significant issue. If the snow becomes moist, start looking for other clues like avalanches on similar slopes. 

    (1/1/2023)

    An example of wet loose slides that occurred around New Year's. Lichtenberg Mtn, SW.

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

For Friday, expect a chance for a dusting of snow and moderate winds tapering off in the morning. The afternoon will bring warming temperatures with clearing. From February 3-8th Stevens Pass received over 2.5 feet of snow with 3" of water equivalent. 

A final burst of precipitation and strong wind set off a cycle of D2-sized avalanches in the early morning hours of the 8th. Observers reported large, natural slab avalanches on steep, leeward slopes, just below ridges that saw wind loading including Windy Ridge and the Rooster Comb, above Lake Susan Jane. During the day, riders triggered a smaller slab avalanche In steep rocky terrain in Lanham Creek and on a ridge just outside of the Stevens Pass Resort boundary in Hollywood bowl, SE, 5,200ft. A widespread cycle of avalanches occurred on February 7th. This more recent round of wind slab avalanches extended into the morning of the 8th. A few steep, sunny slopes produced mostly small loose wet avalanches as snow surfaces warmed on Wednesday. I saw a notable large wet avalanche on a southeast aspect of the Bern Camp Chutes, just west of Rock Mountain.

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