Asgard Pass

Like the seasons themselves some things in life are reliable. Once again the annual autumnal, "underestimating the weather" search and rescue callout occurred in the Asgard Pass/Enchantments Core metro area. The timing allowed for a nice check-in on the highish elevation snowpack and weather. 4500' - snow accumulating, with air temps hovering near freezing HS <5cm in open areas, less under canopy 5600' - HS 18-20 cm 7000' - 30-40cm consistently from 6000' up. Winds gusting topographically off of CBR and Dragontail, with crazy wind vortex noises and rockfall. Drifting to 55cm, with cracking and clear wind effect, although no true snowpack to form avalanche concerns. Mostly mixed drifts and shallower snow with wind exposed areas scoured to rock. Insufficient snow for avalanches, so the weather was the story, as it had snowed hard all late afternoon prior to our arrival before clearing and an unobscured sky presented. To the north and west, we could see ephemeral cloud cover breaking up over the Cashmere Mountain area around 0400. Winds seemed to be all over the place based on elevation and terrain from 2200-0500, with prevailing winds being out of the north across Colchuck Lake. With incoming poor weather again this weekend, an existing snowpack that will be melting and refreezing as water ice, dropping temperatures, and a lack of trail visibility, the Stuart Range is effectively a winter travel zone for the season. Accordingly, the Stuarts and adjacent areas will require sufficient gear (footwear, food, clothes, traction, etc. at a minimum) for safe travel. The point-to-point walk from Colchuck Lake to Snow Lake, while never impossible, won't reflect the summer travel conditions that people might expect based on the weather in Leavenworth. Parties should prepare accordingly, including for persistent, deep snow above 7000' and mandatory route finding. The snowpack is still too shallow for avalanches; no lack of wind.

Asgard Pass

Quick report

Weather