Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Glacier Creek

Date:
Observer:
Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Wet Loose SnowAspect South
Elevation 3000ftSlope Angle 30deg
Crown DepthunknownWidth 60ft
Vertical Run 300ft  
Avalanche Details

wet snow slide, slid to ground, pulled some rocks and dirt, snowpack was terrible and rotten to the ground in isolated locations.
Triggered by 2 skiers on a rollover, neither was caught. Slide would have been very destructive to humans because of weight of snow, excavation would have been slow and blocks of wet snow would have caused trauma.

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

One avalanche was observed from the 3/25 new snow on the snowbird glacier. The wet slide was unexpected as we had been on the glacier for 4 days and had no knowledge of the isothermic nature of the snowpack lower on southern aspects. As we descended the last slopes of the Glacier creek - reed lakes exit from the Snowbird Glacier the snowpack changed drastically within 100 vertical feet. Snow went from crust pow skiing to slushy soft with hip deep penetration (with fat skis on!)

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Sun all day, evening snow squalls

Snow surface

varied

Snowpack

excellent to awful

Photos & Video
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