Bulletin d’avalanche

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Fri
Alpin
1 · Faible
Limite forestière
1 · Faible
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 2 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Avalanche danger should be limited to small pockets of wind-drifted snow at higher elevations and very small loose snow avalanches on slopes facing the sun. Early season hazards still exist in many areas. Use caution and don’t end your winter season before it begins.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Unlikely
    Taille
    1

    Lingering pockets of reactive wind slab could still be hanging on in upper elevation, alpine terrain. While small and seemingly harmless, getting caught could still result in getting pushed into a terrain trap or dragged across rocks, stumps, etc.

    Look for signs of previous wind loading like cornices, wind-scoured ridgelines, and thicker, stiffer drifts. You are most likely to find wind slab along upper-elevation ridgelines, in complex terrain like gullies and couloirs, below cliff bands, or on steep, unsupported slopes.

    Assess stability before moving into steep terrain where you suspect wind slab, especially terrain with consequences in the runout below. If you encounter more wind than forecast, be prepared to find fresh, reactive slabs that will take a more conservative strategy to navigate safely.

    Test small wind-drifted features along ridgelines to gauge wind slab reactivity.

Avalanche Discussion

A good shot of sun is forecast for Stevens Pass on Thanksgiving. Significant loose snow avalanches are not expected, but you could still see rollerballs and very small avalanches. You are most likely to see these below cliffs and steep treed terrain that sheds snow with warming. Avoid being on or directly under steep slopes where you observe signs of instability.

Observations from around Stevens Pass - namely from in or near the closed ski area - are of stable, right side up snowpack. Both Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes came out on the low end of last weekend’s snowfall with 6” or less compared to deeper new snow in other areas along the West Slopes. 

No human-triggered avalanches were reported from the Stevens Pass backcountry in the last few days. That being said, early season observations are limited, especially at higher elevations. Lower elevations still harbor obstacles such as exposed or subtly buried stumps, rocks and creeks. 

Uphill travel at Stevens Pass Ski Area: 1) Follow the ski area’s Uphill Travel Policy. 2) Avalanche mitigation may not have occurred. You should approach the terrain as if it were any other backcountry slope. 3) Numerous other hazards may exist, including electrical lines, snowmaking, heavy machinery, and other motorized traffic. 4) Ski patrol and other ski area staff are not there to respond to emergencies. Travelers should be self-sufficient.

 

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