Double Diamond off of Big Chief Mountain, technically inbounds at Stevens Pass but in closed sidecountry terrain.

Quick report

Traveled relatively aggressively due to the limited known avalanche problems of the day, a few hand pits, proximity to inbounds patrolled terrain (this was adjacent to the top of Kehr’s chair), and the minimal amount of fresh snow. Should’ve been a bit more careful. At around 5500 feet around 2pm, as the 2/13 interface became much firmer, the 2-4in of snow on top seemed to very easily slide off the crust and felt very weakly bonded. It may have been a bit warmer too at this point in the day which led to increased sloughing, but the snow didn’t feel overly wet. Reporting this since it felt that the 2/13 crust underneath was faceted and poorly bonded with the snow above after the slide happened and I did a few hand tests.

Avalanche

Size

D1

Type

L

Aspect

NE

Trigger

AS

Elevation

5000 ft

Broke about 8 feet above me on a convex slope, about ~35-38 degrees that rolled into a small gully on the double diamond inbounds run at Stevens. Technically was considered sidecountry as it was closed and required hiking. As we skied noticed a change in the snow pack around 5500 feet where the 2/13 interface became very firm, only about 3in of snow on the 2/13 interface but a large section released and started carrying my skis, safely skied out to the side of it. Ran about ~150 feet before stopping, low consequence.