Home > Trip Reports > January 12, 2014, Stevens Pass

January 12, 2014, Stevens Pass

1/12/14
WA Stevens Pass
8827
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Posted by silaswild on 1/12/14 7:20am
Traffic was tough in the slow villages on the way up from Seattle.  Then wall to wall cars the final stretch from Tunnel Creel and a total snarl at the parking. Luckily we had a spot held by our guide in the RV lot.

The skinning and skiing were the opposite:  untracked snow and fast lines.  2-3' pole penetration.  Nice soft 7-10" fresh powder on north facing slopes in big trees between 4000-5000'.  South facing open slopes held deeper heavier snow. Ridge crest was 10-20 mph breezy with thin cover over a stiff crust.
Was that you breaking trail uphill through the trees above the RV lot? I don't think I've ever seen anyone touring in that area as its usually demolished by the lift-served hoards before noon.

author=pipedream link=topic=30328.msg126946#msg126946 date=1389580085]
Was that you breaking trail uphill through the trees above the RV lot?

Not us. We did not ski in lift accessible terrain. :)

A good deal of road traffic even before 7:30am  with the lots nearly full already as we passed by. Deep and deeper between 5500-3800ft, we never found the crust or anyone else all day.

And then the rain sucked the life out of the fun. Raining hard at 3,500 east of the crest, and at the pass around dusk to early dark.

Had a simularly good day, but it was pretty wet at the exit.

Waste deep pow to waste deep creek fording.










Echo what others have noted. Found good fluffy snow approx. 3500 - 5000 just east of the crest. Still suffering from coverage in the trees but skiable lines. A bit spooky in the open with fast moving propagating surface slides within the storm layers.  Heavy and wet by the time we left around 2:00 p.m.


author=alecapone link=topic=30328.msg126977#msg126977 date=1389632052]
wet at the exit.


wet exits should be confined to kayaking ;D

Glad to hear you got some good turns in despite the afternoon warmup

author=Mofro link=topic=30328.msg126963#msg126963 date=1389587733]
A good deal of road traffic even before 7:30am  with the lots nearly full already as we passed by. Deep and deeper between 5500-3800ft, we never found the crust or anyone else all day.

chilled with your bro yesterday for awhile bef

What are current Stevens Pass conditions like?  Friday had good coverage with soft snow, but reading about the rain on Sunday I am wondering if it is still good.

Thanks for any info!
Matt

Inverse conditions today.

Rain reached to 5,000' well into monday night... i know since i camped at 4,999.  ::) Nasty crust on mush today. 1 to 4 inches of solid, sometimes unbreakable. 4,000 down was ick, but could be ok in the sun, maybe?



Decent riding above 5k, especially east and south aspects. Moderate terrain that didnt require hard edging was fun. Dog loved it!

Felt more like spring.

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january-12-2014-stevens-pass
silaswild
2014-01-12 15:20:10