Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: 4068

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Sledding hill to 4068 via south aspect ridgeline

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect West
Elevation 4000ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown DepthunknownWidthunknown
Vertical Rununknown  
Avalanche Details

Observed the two slabs on lookers left of the first photo of the Galoob/Haffener Marmot obervation as they happened from the top of 4068; as the first skier in the group proceeded down from the Marmot ridge, the slide closest to the tracks was remotely triggered as they initiated one of their first few turns.. That skier then headed for the slightly ridged area to skiers right, while the slide second closest to lookers left then sympathetically released several seconds after that first slide initiated. The second skier in the group proceeded down a similar route as the first skier several minutes later, with no additional slides triggered.

The crown on lookers right of that same photo was triggered earlier in the day.

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

Several woomphs near the top, which we suspect were the basal facets as pictured in this week’s avalanche forecast.

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

Overcast with light snow in the am, transitioning to few clouds midday. Occasional light winds, temps 10-20.

Snow surface

The top foot of the snowpack was surprisingly consistent from the sledding hill to the top of 4068, comprised of 8-16” of fist to four finger snow, and the pit in this week’s avalanche forecast was highly representative of what we found above 3000’... even in places that are usually wind scoured or highly wind loaded.

Snowpack

No formal tests, but ski pole probing and quick hand pits above 3000’ revealed very poor structure, as was pictured in this week’s forecast.