| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Hatch Common
Mostly standard route to Hatch Common with a little foray into a West facing gully above summit lake to get near the base of April bowl. In this gully we experienced a shooting crack that triggered a very small+shallow wind slab (6’x2’x3″) about 15′ away. Obvious wind transport of surface snow in upper elevations. Cracking in wind drifted snow along ridgelines. Altered our intended terrain choices due to red flags.
Observed many instances of debris from point releases in steep terrain.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Moderate easterly winds rapidly transporting and depositing the loose surface snow.
Cracking in wind deposit areas. See route details
Weather
Mellow snow pluming observed in the morning (10am) off the peaks east of Palmer-Fishhook. Winds seemed to pick up midday. Moderate easterly winds with strong gusts rapidly transporting and depositing the loose surface snow in high alpine terrain. Widespread.
Clear skies.
Single digit temps.
Snow surface
Generally, soft surface snow (and high ski quality) in wind protected areas. Scoured down to icy layers near ridgetops, with associated deposited snow on leeward terrain.
Very small + shallow wind slab
Same small + shallow wind slab, photo taken from approximate trigger location.
Active wind transport off Hatch Common.
Misty peaks? Nope! Widespread snow transport.