Bollettino valanghe

Stevens Pass

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Fri
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

You may still be able to trigger avalanches in lingering pockets of wind-drifted snow at high elevations. Alpine terrain features such as the base of cliffs and confined chutes are likely spots to get caught in one of these slabs. Identify and avoid steep slopes with hollow-sounding snow or deep, pillow-like drifts.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong easterly winds blowing through the mountain passes built stiff wind slabs, potentially on unusual aspects. Most of these wind slabs are around 48hrs old and may be stubborn to trigger. However, where they formed over slick crusts or weak snow surfaces, they could take a bit longer to become unreactive. The most suspect location where you could trigger an avalanche is in alpine terrain on steep slopes near rocks and cliffs or confined terrain features such as couloirs or gullies. Look and feel for hollow-sounding snow, textured surfaces, and "fat" looking drifts to identify steep slopes to avoid. When in doubt, trend around these features using lower angle slopes or scoured windward aspects.

    (3/24/2023)

    Confined terrain features like in this example are likely locations to trigger a lingering wind slab. 

    Photo: Katie Warren

Avalanche Discussion

If the sun sticks around into the afternoon and warms sunny slopes, you could see increasing potential for wet loose avalanches. Widespread crusts and wind-affected snow will likely limit the extent of wet avalanche problems, but you still may see some small wet slides tomorrow. Pay attention to the consistency of the snow below you and move onto lower-angle terrain if wet, heavy snow is easily sliding downhill.

On Monday, NWAC forecasters investigated Sunday's skier-triggered avalanche on Mt Lichtenburg. You can read the original observation HERE. The skier was the second skier on the slope, and it released above him, catching himself and one other skier parked beneath him. They were partially buried but uninjured. Some weak, faceted snow is likely the layer involved in this avalanche. While we are unsure of the distribution and extent of this problem, and it may be fairly isolated, it is worth a quick dig to identify any hard over soft snow layering before committing to consequential terrain. 

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