Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: $1000 Run NE Aspect

Date:
Observer:
Michael Kerst
Route & General Observations

Skinned up from road to see how the weekend weather system effected conditions and the snowpack.

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)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Inconsistent wind effects on snow surface; thin, weak wind slab in some spots to a thick and weight supporting wind slab in others. Significant whumphing felt while skinning. Glide cracks observed on steeper slopes by the road, under $1000 run, and skyscraper.

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

32°F air temp; light winds but with frequent strong gusts of wind from the SE, high winds on ridgetops.

Snow surface

Lots of wind transported snow making areas of deep, fresh snow, and other areas of thick, strong windslabs, felt collapsing when skinning over wind slabs, often chunks of slabs would break off of skin track and quickly slide downslope.

Snowpack

Dug snow pit at ~3100' for an ECT, resulted in ECTX.
Shear test failed on facets.
See snow pit profile

Photos & Video
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$1000 Run NE Aspect-31-Oct  

Location
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