| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
| Avalanche Type | Wet Loose Snow | Aspect | Southeast |
| Elevation | 4600ft | Slope Angle | 40deg |
| Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
| Vertical Run | unknown |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Archangel to Fairangel Valley
Snowmachined then skied up Archangel Valley to Fairangel Valley to assess springtime warming on southerly aspects and attempt to find dry low density snow on north aspects.The only signs of instability were recent small natural wet loose sluffs that we observed on southeast and south aspects on steep slopes all all elevations beginning at 12:30pm.
Avalanche Details
We observed numerous natural D1 wet loose sluffs in steep terrain on SE and S aspects beginning at 12:30pm . None of these were large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person but they sure could tweek a knee or ruin your day if caught and carried.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Recent wet loose sluffs
Weather
No new snow since 3/4
Calm winds today
Temperatures reached 33*F on Marmot @4500', 30* at IM @ 3550', and 34*F at Frostbite @ 2700'. It felt hot in the sunshine and cool in the shade. It definitely was a day for shedding layers, wearing shades, and almost time to bring the glopper stopper in the pack.
Snow surface
Snow surfaces are extremely variable due to a dramatic shift in the weather. Temperatures today felt like April, not March. It is easy to make a snowball on steep southerly aspects while low angle southerly slopes remain sun softened and great skiing. Thin breakable wind skins exist on leeward upper elevation aspects near ridgeline, and where winds challeled through Fairangel Valley during the short duration wind event 3/17-18. In protected locations on leeward aspects, soft faceted snow remains but not for long if temps continue to warm up.
Snowpack
no formal pits were dug
hand shears and pole tests showed no signs of instability today
3.20 Natural wet loose near Sidney Creek SW 3600'
3.20 Natural wet loose up Archangel Valley S 4200'
3.20 Rollerballs on south aspects at noon at 4000'
3.20 Fairangel Valley, Natural wet loose SE 4500'
3.20 Natural wet loose up Archangel Valley that occurred today S 4000'.
3.20 Entrance to Fairangel, Natural wet loose sluffs S 4000'.