Stevens Pass Environs

It was hot and sunny out, and lower elevation sunny slopes were rapidly melting while shady slopes were staying cold and dry. Melting out around trees, bushes and rocks is significant. I was unsure of the timing, but saw several small wet loose avalanches on surrounding peaks, ranging from east to south to west, that likely happened in the last few days. I wouldn't be surprised if I could push a small wet avalanche if I were on a smooth, steep, sunny slope. 

 

The difference between sunny and shady aspects was the most notable observation today. Shady slopes stayed cold and dry, whereas sunny slopes were sloppy and wet. 

Steep southerlies had wet snow in the top 15cm (6 inches) and in most areas, I found a crust beneath that. Skis stayed supportable, only sinking in about as deep as the crust, but pole handles could easily punch several feet deep, and boot penetration was about 50cm, or almost 2ft on these steep slopes that were getting the most sunlight. If you shifted slope angle or aspect slightly, there were significant differences with how far you sunk into the snow. There was little refreeze the previous night. 

Shifting around to shady slopes, nearly all surfaces had different amounts of wind-effect. No surfaces were icy, but some were firm, with skis just edging, vs other areas, maybe only a few feet away, where skis sunk in a few inches. I found a few patches in more heavily treed areas where soft, non wind-affected snow was present. Skis sunk about 6 inches deep here. 

Aside from a small handful of recent rollerballs and wet loose avalanches, I only saw a few small crowns in the surrounding mountains.