Forecasters in the field also observed small 2" thick windslabs forming on Hatch Peak from E winds G19-21 for 6 hrs on Saturday 12/9. No wind slabs were observed on Presidents ridge.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Independence Bowl Mine Area
Toured around in the Independence Bowl area and performed stability tests.
Forecaster Comments
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observer Comments
Observed shooting cracks in freshly formed soft windslabs, along a west facing gully side. Only observed it in a few isolated locations.
Weather
Light snowfall, and poor visibility all afternoon. Total accumulation between noon and 4 pm was roughly 2 inches.
Snow surface
New snow and in a few isolated location (west facing gullies) soft windslabs.
Snowpack
Dug pits in 3 locations between 3400-3500 feet. On east and west aspects. All pits exhibited good-fair structure, no propagation propensity (ECTN), and low strength. All compression tests failed at easy to moderate force (CT3-10), on near surface facets at the new-old snow interface.
Deeper snow were all right side up, with no signs of instability observed in the basal facets.