Stevens Pass

While conditions are generally safe in most avalanche terrain, you may find isolated areas of unstable snow or small avalanches in extreme terrain. On very steep slopes, you could trigger small loose avalanches in the surface snow. You may also be able to trigger small pockets of older wind slabs around steep rocks and cliffs at the highest elevations.

The new year will continue with cool, quiet weather with a chance for 1-2 inches of snow. There aren't many concerns for avalanches in most of the Stevens Pass backcountry. Below 4,500ft, travel conditions will be more challenging as you go lower in terrain. At 3,000ft you can find icy surfaces, open creeks, and holes around boulders. At Low danger, there are considerations to keep in mind for very steep or extreme terrain.

On slopes 40 degrees and steeper, you may be able to trigger loose dry avalanches or sluffs. These avalanches will be small and isolated. Be careful to stay out of your sluff and don't trigger it onto your backcountry partners. While loose avalanches are more predictable, they can push you around on steep slopes. Cold overnight temperatures have weakened the snow, forming surface hoar and near-surface facets. This could also be our next weak layer with the coming storm. 

Another area to consider is extreme leeward slopes at upper elevations. This includes very steep terrain studded with rocks or above cliffs. There may be just enough wind to transport small amounts of snow and form very shallow slabs. More consequential are older wind-stiffened slabs that you can feel under the surface snow. These formed on the 28th and to a lesser extent on the 29th. While they're unreactive on most slopes, extreme terrain could be weak and steep enough that you may be able to trigger small slab avalanches.

An NWAC forecaster went to upper elevations in Lanham Creek and Jim Hill on Tuesday. They found little signs of instability as they traveled and snow stability tests produced stubborn or no results on the weak storm interfaces from earlier this week. There was 7-8 feet of snow at 5500ft. The top 8-10 inches of recent snow is weakening with the cold temperatures, and surface hoar and rime were found on the snow surface. Older wind slabs could be identified under the low-density snow but did not produce any cracking or signs of instability. There were challenging travel conditions below 4200ft, especially under the forest canopy, with just a few inches of snow over firm icy snow. 

If you're in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting an observation.