Avalanche

Stevens Pass sidecountry

Josh HirshbergStevens Pass
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Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3

Quick report

Some areas of unsupportive moist snow. Maybe a few recent roller balls

Weather

Air Temp
41
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
0
Snow Avail For Transport
none

Clear, warm, light westerly winds with moderate gusts.

Snowpack

Northerly, shaded aspects were mostly dry. Sunny slopes at middle and upper elevation were moist to wet, but supportive enough. I found some punchier areas of weaker snowpack near rock features.

A quick, targeted observation on steep, rocky, sun-exposed slope. Profile, SE, 5,200ft: HS 168cm. Boot penetration: 25cm.

The top 8cm was wet and very weak. This rested on a 13cm 1F+ crust that was breaking down. Underlying layers alternated relatively harder and softer versions of moist polychrystals. The snow was moist and 0*C at least 100cm below the surface.

Avalanche

No new avalanches. With binoculars, I looked extensively at many indicator paths and slopes that typically produce wet avalanches. While there were many textured surfaces with rollerballs and some smaller wet avalanches, I saw few if any that looked as recent as the last few days. Notably, the rock slab on the east end of Lichtenberg Mtn that frequently produces wet and glide avalanches was full of snow with no cracks visible.