Stevens Pass

Prepare for firm snow surfaces in the morning and general mountain hazards. Wet avalanches will be difficult to trigger but not impossible, particularly as the snow softens. Move off steep slopes if you sink deeply into wet snow, and limit your time below cornices and rock faces that are holding snow.

While avalanches are unlikely, there are hazards to consider. Even with slim chances, the consequences of a cornice fall or a rock face shedding snow could be significant. If you're traveling at high into the mountains, it's wise to minimize your exposure to potential overhead hazards. As is typical in spring, the chance of avalanches will increase as the day warms.

Recent observations have found that the top foot of the snowpack has been solidly frozen and supportive. Prepare for firm crusts first thing in the morning. Bring traction equipment, like crampons (ski/boot), to prevent an uncontrolled fall on steep, frozen slopes. With overnight clouds following Saturday's warm, damp weather, you may find that surfaces soften quickly on Sunday. The sun will warm surfaces even on northeast and northwest aspects. There's a slight chance that you could find areas of wet and unsupportive snow sufficient enough to trigger small wet avalanches. If you sink into the snow up to the top of your boots, it's time to move to lower-angle terrain.

On the 11th, an NWAC forecaster near Stevens Pass Ski Area found less than an inch of soft, moist snow on the surface over a foot of solidly frozen crust. Light rain came to the pass early in the morning and damp fog and sprinkles persisted through the day. On the 8th, an observer on Rock Mountain reported supportive, but softening surfaces and thick crusts in the upper snowpack. The last natural wet avalanches were reported to have run on the 6th. Skiers triggered wet loose avalanches on the south aspect of Lichtenberg Mountain. 

Prepare for low snow cover, open creeks, and icy surfaces, which create various travel hazards.