Stevens Pass

Winter travel may be challenging due to crusty snow and shallow snow cover. If you travel above 6,500ft, be ready to make your own asessment of the snowpack as we have little information from upper elevations. Warm temperatures and some clearing could warm the snow surfaces.

On Saturday, expect very warm temperatures. With the weak December sun and crusts on most slopes, its unlikely that you'll encounter avalanches. If you're venturing to upper elevations, there's a slim chance that south aspects could warm enough to produce roller balls where the snow surface was previously dry. We know little about the snowpack at the highest elevations or in the further-flung parts of the zone, like the Chiwakum Mountains. If you travel above 6,000ft, make your own assessments of the snowpack and let us know what you see by submitting an observation. Earlier this week, observers reported surface hoar forming on a range of slopes.

On Thursday, I checked out the snowpack adjacent to Stevens Pass Ski Area. During the day, 1-2" of snow accumulated, followed by warming temperatures in the late afternoon. Around 5,000ft, there's roughly 3 feet snow on the ground. The entire snowpack was moist or previously wet, with crusts at the surface, down 6", and in the middle of the snowpack.

On Dec 9-10th, two feet of snow fell and was then capped by rain up to at least 6000ft. On Sunday, a widespread cycle of wet avalanches ensued.  Snow surfaces cooled to form the breakable crust that you will now find on the surface.

Stevens Pass Ski Area is now open. Check uphill policies HERE.