| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Gold Mint Parking Lot/Archangel Road
Went for a tour from the Gold Mint parking lot up to the benches around Archangel road to teach students snow pack observations and travel techniques. Blue bird skies, no wind. Below freezing temps.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Recent avalanches were present on all aspects. There were too many to count! The avalanches observed ranged from D1 to D2.5+. Roughly ⅔ of the observed avalanches released at the ground and ~⅓ of the observed avalanches released mid-pack. The avalanche we observed in Wimp bowl looked like it could have been a wind slab- we noted texture snow on ridges caused by southerly winds. Most avalanches occurred with starting zones on slopes of 35-45 degrees.
Other red flags- there was subtle collapsing under our skis on the skin up when we left the skin track.
Weather
Cold and clear. Blue bird skies. No wind.
Snow surface
Snow surfaces were soft low density snow. Wind transport was observed on upper elevations and ridge lines caused by southerly winds.
Snowpack
Test Results (on pictured pit):
HS 136cm
CT11SC 7cm down from snow surface
ECTP29 on basal facets
Student pits had similar results- reactivity in the first 10 cm from the snow surface and reactivity on the basal facets. None of the instructor or student pits had reactivity around MF crust layers.
Slab is strengthening, faceting at the surface.
Fredrik demonstrating how to dig a snowpit