Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Independence Mine

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Tour at the mid-elevation band in the Independence Mine area and the lower elevation band on the 16 Mile Road Run. Targeted observations for moisture content in snowpack, settlement and cohesion of slab with warmth and recent rain and rain/snow mix.

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

Overcast, air temp -5C, light rain and rain/snow mix at 2500'
The road system still contains significant ice and with the addition of rain was very slick.

Snow surface

Moist from rain. Crust will form with freezing temperatures.

Snowpack

At mid elevation recent rain has saturated the upper snowpack. These grains are moist and rounding, with the mid and upper pack gaining cohesion. The entire snowpack except the base is in funicular regime, moist and able to make a snowball. Warmth has affected the entire snowpack with all grains rounding, with the faceted sugar snow at the base of the snowpack.

At the lower elevations: A hasty snowpit on the 16 Mile Road Run at 2000' on a Se aspect showed 50cm/19" of total snowpack. The surface has a refrozen crust that began to melt and saturate with rain during the day. The mid-pack and lower pack consisted of fist hard moist snow, capable of making a snowball, but no free water was observed.

Photos & Video
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