Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: $1000 Run / April Bowl

Date:
Observer:
S Galoob
Route & General Observations

Toured up $1000 to look for natural avalanche activity and check out general conditions.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Recent looking debris on NE aspect of Hatch Peak (photo from afar in observation yesterday), date unknown. Some debris is older, but there is a pocket of windslab / cornice that looks more recent. Debris of unknown age on south side of Skyscraper, i.e. "Nixon's Nose". Debris looks relatively fresh.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

~20 degrees F. Wind light from the N / NE.

Snow surface

Settled powder. Wind crusts starting to form on ridgelines, and old skin tracks filled in by wind transport.

Snowpack

Pole probing and hand pits revealed that the melt-freeze crust is deteriorating, it offers much less resistance to pole probing than about a week ago. No formal stability tests.

Photos & Video
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Hatcher Pass overall still has a thin snowpack. This photo shows how many rocks are still exposed in April Bowl.  

Presumed recent pocket of windslab / cornice on NE aspect of Hatch Peak (upper left).  

Debris of unknown age, but presumed recent on S aspect of Skyscraper, i.e. Nixon's Nose.  

For the first time in the last couple of weeks tracks are filled back in by wind transport.  

Location
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