Bollettino valanghe

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Wed
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 6 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

You can trigger avalanches on wind loaded slopes at higher elevations on Tuesday.  Keep an eye out for stiffer pillow-like deposits of snow, and avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees where those conditions are present.  Travel carefully at lower elevations, as the snow surface is variable and may be icy.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Triggering a wind slab avalanche at upper elevations is your largest concern on Tuesday. They could be large enough to bury, injure or kill you, especially if there are rocks, trees or cliffs in the runout. There are some findings of weak layers both above and below the uppermost crust from Jan 24. If that weak layer is present, especially on top of the crust in an area wind loaded with more snow, you could trigger an avalanche on that slope. If those weak layers are involved, avalanches that are larger or easier to trigger than you would otherwise suspect could occur. 

    Carefully assess how recent snow has bonded to old snow surfaces as you travel using hand pits and small test slopes. Pay attention as you transition into wind affected terrain and look and feel for changes in snow surface texture and hardness, as wind affected snow is usually more firm.  Stay off these wind affected slopes in areas that are steeper than 35 degrees. 

    A skier remotely triggered this wind slab (D1) on the east face of Tye Peak near 5200ft Thursday. The crown was 20-25ft across and 6-18 inches deep. Photo: Marc Simonpietri

Avalanche Discussion

If you're traveling on the eastern boundary of the Steven’s zone take a look at the East Central Forecast, where the snowpack is different and persistent slab avalanche conditions are much more of a concern.  Check out one of those observations here.  

I travelled to ridgeline near Lanham Lake on Sunday, where I consistently found 6-10 inches of low density snow on top of the Jan 24 crust.  In some spots the snow was well bonded to the crust, however in a few pits I found a thin layer of weak, faceted snow just above the crust. In those pits the snow easily failed on that layer. Another observation came in with similar snowpack findings on Sunday. This avalanche that was reported on Thursday may have occurred on that layer as well. 

At lower elevations the snow conditions are variable, with icy, bumpy surfaces and plenty of downed trees and branches. Use caution while moving through lower elevation terrain.   

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

Regioni coperte