Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Bench between Marmot and Microdot

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Hi Allie. Brint, Austin, Phillip and I went up between Microdot and Marmot where we dug a full pit. Then we went toward Hatcher Pass. Please give me a call if you need more info Allie!

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Wet Loose SnowAspect South
ElevationunknownSlope Angle 40deg
Crown Depth 14inWidth 40ft
Vertical Run 500ft  
Avalanche Details

Wet loose avalanches released on steep southerly aspects of Skyscraper during a short sunny spell in the early afternoon. These D2 avalanches sometimes started shallow slabs, about 30 cm thick.

Red Flags
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Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Rapid warming, recent heavy precipitation, recent avalanches. See avalanche observations on Avanet.

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

Warm! Almost 40 degrees F. Calm. Overcast. About 60 cm of wet heavy snow.

Snow surface

60 cm of glue. The snow was fast and supportable for skiing. Trail breaking was boot top deep and tiring. Snowmachiners were having a very hard time.

Snowpack

We dug a full profile between Microdot and Marmot on a 20-degree west-facing aspect. See attached profile and on Avanet. We found 60 cm of new above a crust. Test showed ECTP26 resistant planer (not sudden like we initially thought), about 2cm above the crust on a what looked like a storm density change.

Photos & Video
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