Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Marmot, Punk Spines, SW Marmot, Archangel

Date:

February 20, 2022 7:27pm

Observer:

Allie Barker Forecaster

Route & General Observations

Took a flight over Hatcher Pass on Saturday to witness the destruction from the Valentines Heartbreak Storm 2/14-2/18. Numerous D3 and one D4 naturals were observed. Many avalanches crossed both the upper and lower roads as well as the road between Fishhook lot and the HP lodge . A historic avalanche was observed on the east face of government that came within 100 yards of the GPRA winter bike trails.

Contact, Location & General Observations

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Forecaster Comments

This avalanche cycle was larger and more destructive than the Easter Cycle in March 2021. Some of the paths in this cycle that went naturally we have either never seen or havent seen since the 70's and 80's. It will be another one for the books.

Avalanche Details

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Trigger	Natural	Remote Trigger	Unknown
Avalanche Type	Unknown	Aspect	West
Elevation	4000ft	Slope Angle	unknown
Crown Depth	unknown	Width	unknown
Vertical Run	2500ft

Avalanche Details

Numerous natural avalanches observed from the Valentines Storm 2/14-2/18 which brought 50" of snow and 8" SWE to Hatcher Pass.

Red Flags

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Obvious signs of instability

Recent Avalanches?	Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?	No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?	No

Observer Comments

Numerous large and very large avalanches observed.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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Weather

50" new snow, 8" SWE 2/14 to 2/18
low winds but cant be totally sure cause all our anemometers froze up during freezing drizzle event. observed wind effect on ridges during flight and sastrugi

Photos & Video

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