Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Safety Courses , opens in a new window
Northwest Avalanche Center
Snow Science
Stevens Pass has been a winter weather research site since 1937. In the 1950, snow science pioneers Monty Atwater and Frank Foto chose Stevens Pass as an avalanche research site because of its classic maritime winter weather.
Today, our Avalanche Forecasters and Ski Patrollers carry on that tradition, recording daily snow, wind, temperature information. Stevens Pass has over two hundred and thirty avalanche paths in the ski area boundary, and we are dedicated to making sure our mountain playground stays as safe as possible.
Our Base Area weather information is taken from the Schmidt Haus study plot, located near Highway 2 at 3,950’. Our Mid Mountain study plot is near the top of Brooks Chair,4,800’. Wind and temperature are also measured at the top of the Tye Mill chair, at 5,180’.
Stevens Pass Avalanche Dogs
History
The idea of Avalanche rescue dogs digging around Stevens Pass first came up in 1991. At that time there were only about a dozen trained ‘avy dogs’ in the country. By ’93, our first pack of dogs, Denali, Bo and Chaser, were blazing a trail that many others would follow. Every winter since then, dedicated Ski Patrollers have committed to the challenge and reward of becoming a dog handler, adding to their regular ‘on hill’ chores the extra effort of training an avalanche rescue dog. Stevens Pass Ski Patrol has trained over 20 avalanche dogs since ’93, and today has a pack of 7 dogs in various stages of their career.
Service
Avy dogs come to work every day with their handlers, and are ready to respond to an emergency inside or outside the ski area boundary. In the event of an avalanche, it is our priority to get a dog team to the site as quickly and safely as possible, along with other essential rescue equipment and personnel. Stevens Pass Avalanche Rescue Dogs is a member of the Back Country Avalanche Rescue K-9 (BARK) group, a statewide, non-profit, volunteer based mountain rescue organization of professional ski patrollers and avalanche rescue dogs. BARK teams from Stevens, Crystal, and Alpental train with local county SAR Sheriffs Deputies to respond via helicopter to remote avalanche accidents. These BARK teams are ready to respond 24/7 throughout the winter.
