Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Base of Granite Peak

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

We headed up the groomer toward Granite Mountain. We arrived at the base just in time to witness one wet slide and notice
new debris from others before turning around and water skiing back to the car.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Wet Loose SnowAspect East Northeast
Elevation 4000ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown DepthunknownWidth 30ft
Vertical Run 175ft  
Avalanche Details

Rapid warming lead to plenty of shedding of unconsolidated snow on east aspects (and likely others) We witnessed the slide on the right run slowly but powerfully over an existing debris pile. It appeared that a small point release on a northeast aspect triggered a lowish angle D2 wet loose avalanche. We turned around and skied the slop back to the sticky groomer.

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

Rapid warming

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

45°F+

Snow surface

Wet wet wet

Snowpack

Dug a pit on the NW side of cross hill at a slope of about 35. Had a sudden collapse across the entire column at ECT 18, just over a foot deep on an old ice layer.

Photos & Video
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