Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Hatch Peak, Base of $1,000 Run

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

-10:45-Started from Hatch Peak/Gate Lot , Overcast, Light sporadic winds from the East, light precipitation. 25F
-Took Hatcher Pass Road to Summit Lake Pass and ascended Ridgeline until 4,250 ft (plateau), encountering deep pockets of wind slabs and wind scoured areas with crusty/icy surface snow
-Consistent wind around 5-10mph from East, until Hatch Ridgeline, 4,250 ft. where wind increased to consistent 15mph with gusts at 25-30 mph.
-Skied multiple laps on low-angle terrrain from base of Hatch Peak towards multi-level plateaus.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

-Heavy Wind scoured ridgelines on all aspects with heavy, sporadic wind loaded deposits up to 200cm along Hatch Peak Ridgeline, Hatcher Pass Road and below rock bands along approach towards the base of Hatch Peak
-Recent Slides on bench below the base of Hatch Peak. Unsure of Crown or Wind-loaded cornice along Ridgeline but debris was present in creek below. Northern aspect. Visibly obvious from Hatcher Pass Road.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

10:45-Skins on at Parking lot near Hatcher Pass Road/Bridge with Adam R.Overcast, Light sporadic winds from the East, light precipitation, 25F, visibility obscured by wind and ground depth of 20 meters.
12:00-4,100 ft, Overcast, blue sky trying to break through, winds increasing from 5mph to 10-15mph (consistent) gusts at 25-30mph from East.
13:55- 3,770 ftOvercast trending to Broken, pocketed blue sky with great visibility. Winds at 5-15mph with sporadic gusts at 25mph
15:30-2,500ft, Broken skies, with decreasing winds and no precipitation

Snow surface

Deep wind deposits and slabs on all aspects.Wind deposits reached 200cm of settled slabs.
Prominent ridge lines encountered wind scouring.
Moist snow below 3,000ft until parking lot.

Snowpack

4,100ft: HS 150cm near wind affected Ridgeline on Hatch Peak. Approximately 60cm of deposited wind slab (North Aspect)
Full Hardness Profile: See Photo
3,677 ft
HS 210
27 Degree Slope Angle
-140cm cohesive wind slab on a 3cm Knife Ice Crust layer 90 cm from base
-Observed two ice crust layers (knife) with 20cm Fist layer in between. 70cm-90cm ( from base)

Photos & Video
Please upload photos below. Maximum of 5 megabytes per image. Click here for help on resizing images. If you are having trouble uploading please email images separately to staff.