Stevens Pass

Challenging challenging travel and shallow snow cover will be the main hazards on Wednesday. Triggering avalanches is unlikely.

On Thursday, it's unlikely that you'll encounter any avalanches, and conditions are generally safe in the bulk of the zone. However, we know little about the snowpack at the highest elevations or in the further-flung parts of the zone, like the Chiwakum Mountains. It's possible that the highest terrain accumulated more dry snow during last weekend's storm and could have conditions different from those we know in the rest of the terrain. If you travel above 6,000ft, make your own assessments of the snowpack. Watch for signs of recently drifted snow or wind slab avalanche conditions. Recently, observers have reported surface hoar forming on a range of slopes.

Two feet of snow fell Saturday night, which was capped by rain up to at least 6000ft. On Sunday, a widespread cycle of wet avalanches ensued.  snow surfaces cooled. Most of the previously wet snow is now frozen into a hard or punchy crust. This encompasses lower elevations, mid-elevations, and at least a little way into upper elevations. At lower and mid-elevations, unfrozen,  moist snow may linger under the surface crusts for some time. 

Stevens Pass Ski Area is now open. Check uphill policies HERE. If you travel in the backcountry, let us know what you saw by submitting an observation HERE.