Stevens Pass

Generally safe avalanche conditions continue. A storm Saturday night will bring light precipitation, cooling temperatures, and increasing westerly winds, but will do little to create any new avalanche problems. Watch for isolated areas of wind drifted snow high in the alpine, and stay alert if the sun unexpectedly comes out and thaws snow surfaces.    

A couple of inches of new snow may accumulate at the highest elevations, while cooling temperatures should allow snow surfaces to become firm and frozen elsewhere, limiting the potential for avalanches. Winds may be enough to create shallow drifts in isolated alpine areas. Pay attention as you gain elevation and look for evidence of wind loading on the leeward side of ridges, in gullies, and on unsupported slopes. Light precipitation may linger through the day Sunday and skies should remain cloudy. If the sun happens to come out, watch for the new snow to become wet and weak on E-S-W aspects and keep loose wet avalanches in mind. 

Even with LOW avalanche danger, continue to stay alert during the ongoing transition from winter to spring.  Cornices grew large over the past few months and loom along many high elevation ridgelines. Use extra caution in areas where they are present. A large glide avalanche occurred Saturday in the nearby Snoqualmie Pass Zone. Widening glide cracks have been observed around Stevens Pass and all throughout the Cascades over the past few weeks. These avalanches are challenging to predict and occur in isolated terrain features where the snowpack rests on a smooth, lubricated ground surface like grassy slopes or rock slabs. Keep a watchful eye out for crevasse-like cracks in the snowpack and avoid travel on or below slopes where they exist.

The last storm ended on 3/29 and left about 15in of new snow on the pass. Wet loose avalanche activity has been the primary concern the past few days with warming temperatures and sunshine. Wednesday and Thursday were the most active, with many small wet loose avalanches along with one large wet loose avalanche on Lichtenberg (see photo below and this observation). This one gouged down into older snow layers and even had a couple of small trees in the debris pile. The snowpack is currently strong and well settled, although a layer of facets above a crust from mid-January created widespread deep slab avalanches through February. The last deep slab activity occurred over one month ago, and the layer is now dormant or inactive, but it will stay on our radar for the remainder of the season. 

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.