Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: $1000 Run/Hatch Pk

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Skied from PL below Hatcher Pass gate along the N. side of Hatcher Ck, then up $1000 to 4500ft on the ridge running north from VABM Hatch.

Contact, Location & General Observations
Enter your contact information and a location for this observation. Note that you can submit anonymously, however if you would like to share your name with staff, but not the public, select No for "May we include your name in your observation"
Forecaster Comments

Small wind slab (D1) was human triggered on Saturday 4/13, 3650' N/NE aspect. Similar small human triggered new winds slabs were observed that day.
Wet avalanche debris dated around 4/8. Natural dry loose were observed at upper elevation leeward aspects on Sat, as well as small wet loose on sunny aspects at mid and low elevation.

Avalanche Details
If this is an avalanche observation, click yes below and fill in the form as best as you can. If people were involved, please provide details.
Trigger SkierRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect North
Elevation 3600ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown DepthunknownWidth 250ft
Vertical Run 150ft  
Avalanche Details

At approx. 1600 noticed what looked like recent avalanche debris at about 3600ft on the N. aspect and just below the top of the ridge running NE and about 1mi from VABM Hatch. Don't recall seeing it on my way up the mtn in the am. Observed skier tracks both above and below the debris. Appears to have released near the top of a short steep rollover just below the ridgetop. Maybe the beginnings of a cornice that didn't quite happen (pic).

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

See attached recent avalanche description. Observed soft snow sloughs caused by skiers on ridge running NE from VABM Hatch (pic). Observed debris from avalanches breaking to ground on S aspect of Skyscrapper Mtn. (pic).

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

Bluebird day in am with sunny skies until 1630 when cu cloud build-up obscured the sun. At 4500ft at 1249 was 30F with slight breeze from the S.

Snow surface

At PL found 1" new snow from last Friday? storm over firm base. 1mm surface hoar. As one climbed up the mtn, new snow transitioned to weak M/F (sun?) crust (pic). By 4000ft crust had transitioned into loose snow. Up to 6" loose snow at high point of 4500ft. 1-2 mm Surface hoar to at least 4000ft.

Snowpack

See attached snow profile. Got shovel shear easy in pit at 3786ft, but CTN. Did not do ECT.

Photos & Video
Please upload photos below. Maximum of 5 megabytes per image. Click here for help on resizing images. If you are having trouble uploading please email images separately to staff.