| Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | No |
| Avalanche Type | Hard Slab | Aspect | South Southeast |
| Elevation | 5000ft | Slope Angle | 28deg |
| Crown Depth | 6in | Width | 40ft |
| Vertical Run | 500ft |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Gold Cord Peak, Million Dollar Face
Toured Gold Cord to Pinnacle Valley to Nose Hair. One skier-triggered wind slab avalanche on Gold Cord. Significant wind slabs building on leeward slopes throughout Hatcher Pass.
Avalanche Details
From the mine shaft entrance on Million Dollar Face, a ski cut was made across the upper face. There was a wind slab layer that thickened from 1-2 inches on skier's right to 6-12 inches on skier's left. Shooting cracks and small (ski-width) slabs without propagation were evident across the whole cut. As the skier approached the rock ribs on skier's left (the end of the intended ski cut) a harder wind slab broke about 20 feet above him. The crown was about 6 inches deep, 40 feet in width, and it broke when the skier was in the center. He continued his ski cut and exited the debris, which slowly ran 500 feet.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observer Comments
Recent and active wind loading on leeward slopes.
Weather
Temps 10-15 degrees with persistent moderate wind from the East.
Snow surface
Continuous snow transport from wind - skin tracks filled in from the day before.