Steven's Peak Observations

We toured Steven's Peak looking at surface wet snow conditions. Up to our highpoint of travel at 9,460', the recent storm snow on SE aspects had fully assimilated with the older melt freeze layer below. On E aspects the recent storm snow remained slightly transitional and will likely become nearly fully assimilated by the end of today. NE aspects still held recent storm snow, well settled but still yet to enter melt phase in well shaded areas and areas with very indirect sun exposure.

Looking around the greater area, a few areas of natural roller balls were visible below cliff bands on E-SE aspects. Around midday, we could intentionally trigger roller balls on E aspects and pinwheels on NE aspects. We did not travel any areas steep enough to trigger a loose wet avalanche, but it seemed quite possible today in steeper terrain.

S aspect terrain has returned to bare ground just as it was prior to the last week of Feb storm event. The rough snow surfaces that existed pre-storm on E and SE aspects in this area are starting to reemerge from under the recent new snow.