| Trigger | Foot Penetration | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | North Northeast |
| Elevation | 4000ft | Slope Angle | 35deg |
| Crown Depth | 24in | Width | 150ft |
| Vertical Run | 800ft |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Bennets Ridge
Went back to site for observation from 4/28 to observe any changes in stability and to perform additional stability tests. While conducting snow pit tests on low angel terrain (19º) just off ridge top, snowpack collapsed and triggered avalanche below us.
Avalanche Details
Majority of path estimated at 35º steepness, pulling back to roughly 30º in one area.
SS-A-I-r-R3-D2-I
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
One collapse near pit site before second collapse which triggered avalanche. Note, the poor structure is now well hidden, but seem to exist on north facing slopes above 3500' (might also exist at lower elevations)
Weather
Several additional warm moist snow and graupel fell yesterday and last night. Flat light but some visibility today, no natural avalanches observed. Numerous density inversions within last weeks snow.
Snow surface
Moist new snow with lots of graupel.
Snowpack
Very similar to observation from 4/28, but weak layer depth had increased from 35 to 60 cm down. Stability results showed high variations in force to affect weak layer, but all ECT test propagated and CT test failed with sudden collapse. Performed 3 PST test all failed within PST25-30/100 End.
Snow from the last 10 days are not bonding well to near surface facets that exist on higher elevation shaded slopes.
Soft slab avalanche on NNE aspect of Bennett Ridge remotely triggered from near ridge top.