Lawinenlagebericht

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Avalanche danger has eased, but keep an eye out for stiffer wind slabs or active transport as you gain elevation. Steer around consequential or unsupported steep slopes if they appear drifted, textured or if you find signs of instability.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The danger is low, but there are still some chances to trigger a small wind slab in some areas. At upper elevations, slopes are more exposed to wind drifting and are more likely to be affected by recent easterly winds. Observers on the north side of Rock Mountain turned around due to strong easterly winds on Monday. Yet, in other areas, no drifting was observed.

    Pay attention to how the snow changes as you travel. Look for textured surfaces, and active transport. Look for cracking with wind stiffened snow. Very steep, convex, and/or unsupported slopes may be most likely to release. Steer around areas that you think could hold this problem.

    (1/2/2023)

    Small ski triggered wind slab on a northeast aspect at 5,700ft near Rock Mountain.

    Photo: Erin Andrade

Avalanche Discussion

On Monday clouds filtered through the pass, and light to moderate south easterly winds blew. An observer reported windy conditions near the top of the north face of Rock Mountain, and ski triggered a very small wind slab on a NE aspect at 5,700ft (See photo). On Sunday, the sun was out, and a small round of wet loose avalanches were observed. Expect to find a sun crust on south aspects on Tuesday. 

On Saturday I found light wind affect on a ridgeline above Smithbrook, and dangerous tree bombs (chunks of snow and ice falling from trees).  Storm snow instabilities were still present, with a density inversion creating cracking and propagating test results down over a foot deep. An observer in Henry Creek noted blowing snow was visible on the summit ridge of Jim Hill. Observer Brooke Maushund, reported some small wet avalanche on steep slopes below 4,000ft at the pass and up to 5,000ft on the eastern edge of the zone where more sun broke through the clouds. 

Last week, observers reported very reactive avalanches with multiple shallow natural and triggered slides in the new snow. One natural avalanche in the Skyline/Moonlight area had a crown that was over 200 feet wide and may have broke down to the Christmas crust. See photo above. Some of these interfaces may still be able to produce avalanches as mentioned above. From December 23-27th the Schmidt Haus weather station measured nearly 5.5" of water equivilent with heavy rain and sleet forming a stout crust. The Christmas crust is now 2-2.5 feet (50-75cm) below the surface.

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