Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Avalanche obs- post storm - Hatcher Pass

Date:

March 22, 2016 7:16pm

Observer:

Allie Barker Professional

Route & General Observations

Travelled up and around Ray Wallace, Microdot, and Independence Mine observing recent avalanches post 3/19-20 storm. Numerous recent avalanches everywhere – wet loose, dry loose, soft slabs – mostly at mid and upper elevation on slopes 35 deg and steeper, all aspects.

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

Naturals avalanches possible, Human triggered avalanches are likely on all aspects on slopes steeper than 35deg at mid and upper 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	Skier	Remote Trigger	0
Avalanche Type	Soft Slab	Aspect	North Northwest
Elevation	4000ft	Slope Angle	38deg
Crown Depth	12in	Width	60ft
Vertical Run	60ft

Avalanche Details

Observed solo skier trigger SS-AS-R2D2-I
Estimate from a distance 60ftx60ftx 12-18" crown depth
Triggered on 2nd turn, able to ski out- uninjured.
Most likely ran on surface hoar recently buried by last weekend's new snow.

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

Observed over 50 avalanches today from mid-storm 3/19, post storm 3/20-21, and today 3/22. Avalanches were widespread on all aspects mostly at mid (2500'-3500') and upper (3500'+) elevation on terrain 35deg and steeper. Observed dry loose and soft slabs on leeward- NE-N-NW-W and wet loose on E-SE-S-SW-W. Most avys went naturally within last 2 days. Also observed wet loose triggering soft slabs naturally.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

12" new snow from 3/19, 3/20.
Max temps at 3500' have ranged btwe 40-46deg the past 3 days, yikes!
Winds gusted from 20-40mph for 12+ hrs post storm SE
Temps increased from 12deg F t0 30deg F during the storm.

Snow surface

wet! rollerball central
12" new snow has consolidated into 6"

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.

SS-ASr-R1D1-I Lower Marmot uptrack 3200'

WL-N-R2D1-I Lower Skyscraper 3500' - (dozens of wet-loose observed - see person standing bottom left, building kicker)

Wet-loose triggered soft slab. WL/SS-N-R1D1.5-I Lower Marmot -lf of Lodge Slide 3200' W aspect

6" wet heavy snow (due to rapid temp increase)on top of last weeks lighter density snow- inverted!

Mid-storm and post storm natural soft slabs, near Martin Mine NE 4000'

Natural wet-loose triggered soft slab 4000' NW lower Microdot

SS-AS-D2-I Human triggered soft slab 3/22 . Triggered on 2nd turn, skied out at bottom. Ray Wallace 3750' NW aspect

Location

Click to Explore Location.