You can trigger small, losse avalanches on very steep slopes. Travel conditions have improved over the past week, with light snowfall and cold temperatures. Be prepared for open holes near creeks and boulders, as well as for very firm surfaces under thick trees and on steep slopes.
On steep slopes, near 40 degrees, you can trigger loose avalanches in the surface snow where it slides easily on a crust. While they may be small and predictable, these avalanches could push them into gullies, trees, or cliffs. Use small test slopes to see how easily the snow slides. Practice good terrain management by stopping out of the runouts and well out from under other backcountry travelers.
Stevens Pass picked up another 2-3" of snow on Thursday. Ongoing cold temperatures are keeping the surface snow light and weak. Watch for any blowing snow or wind-stiffened surfaces. Winds may have been gusty enough over the last few days to form shallow drifts at upper elevations. While a wind slab avalanche would be very small and isolated, it could push you around if you're not paying attention.
On Tuesday, an NWAC forecaster outside the Stevens Pass ski area boundary found plenty of weak snow surrounding a couple of crusts in the upper snowpack. We have limited information from upper elevations, above 6,000ft. If you travel there, we'd love to have your observations!
As each day passes, the upper snowpack is weakening. If/when significant slabs are built on top, either from wind or a snowstorm, it's likely that we'll have very reactive avalanches on a widespread weak layer over a crust. On shaded, less sun-exposed slopes, there's 8-12" of soft, dry snow with a layer of weak facets and surface hoar (February 13th) immediately above the uppermost, thin crust (February 8th). About 10-14" below the surface, you'll find a very stout, thick layer of frozen, icy melt forms that resulted from warm temperatures, wet snow, and rain in late January and early February. On sunny, southeast through southwest slopes, there are numerous recent crusts, including one just beneath the surface. Upper elevations will likely have a greater separation between crusts, with potentially more weak snow between them.
There are still significant travel hazards, particularly in lower elevations and forested areas. Open creeks, bare ground, and exposed rocks are all things you might have to contend with to get into the more pleasant conditions above about 4500ft.
