No whumping, cracking, or collapsing . No new slab avalanches. A few small dry loose avys observed on SE and E aspects near Martin Mine around 3900', likely 3/14.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Independence Mine area
Hardest part of the day was driving to and from HP with the honking Matanuska winds gusting 40-50 mph or more in the valley.
Toured from upper IM lot to look for potential new avy activity from an increase in wind this week. Scouring and sculpting abound, but no evidence found of recent slab activity.
Marmot and Microdot look skied out like the ski area. Ready for a re-boot!
Observer Comments
Weather
Winds gusted E/ENE to 22 mph on Monday , and 28 mph Tuesday- transporting some snow into new thin wind slabs on leeward aspects. Although winds have been constant in the valley- HP has not received quite enough wind for another natural cycle- at least not yet.
Recent cold weather and diurnal cycle still driving significant faceting out/drying out surface snow.
No new snow this week.
Temps have remained cold Mon-Wed.
4500'
-4.1 deg. F at 8am
-1 deg. F at 1200
2 deg. F at 1400
Snow surface
Variable. Recrystallized powder, wind board, old windslab, new windslab, sastrugi, wind waves. Some powder pockets in super protected locations consisting of facet powder!
Snowpack
Poor structure. Low energy. Stubborn slabs, but still possible to propagate persistent slab.
Some mid pack slabs are faceting out, and poor structure is all that is left.
Wind waves and scoured features on 4068'
Recrystallized powder - surface snow faceting out
Mini surface slab pulled out on skiers turn- E aspect 3500'
Recent dry loose near Martin Mine E/SE 3900'
Raised tracks from last tuesday due to this week's wind