| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Hard Slab | Aspect | East Northeast |
| Elevation | 3900ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | 24in | Width | 100ft |
| Vertical Run | 400ft |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Independence Mine Bowl
Observations from the Independence Mine Bowl and Hatcher Pass / April Bowl area. Snowmachined up to Hatcher Pass hoping to snowmachine down into Upper Willow Creek to check out conditions. A crown from the weekend on the W side of Hatcher Pass had completely filled back in with snow and was actively loading. Wind drifts were covering signs previously exposed by several feet and fresh looking debris could be seen off the W side of Bennett’s Ridge funneling near the snowmachine trail. We decided to not snowmachine down based on concern the W side of the pass was loaded up and ready to release a wind slab avalanche. We instead skinned up Bennett’s Ridge through strong winds to 4300′ and turned around and headed back down the way we had come up.
Avalanche Details
Natural wind slab avalanches observed in cross loaded gullies of Martin Ridge. Occurred some time between 3 pm and 5 pm. Largest avalanche was D2, and appeared to step down to deeper weak layers. Photos below.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Natural D1.5 wind slab avalanche on the west side of Hatcher Pass, NW aspect, 4000' (ran over the summer road to Summit Lake), occurred some time last night. Heavy wind transport since about 10 am, constant pluming along ridgelines, and occasional obscured visibility at valley bottoms.
Weather
No precip overnight. Winds built overnight, increasing to SE 31 gusting 49 mph at 5 pm. Winds in Hatcher Pass near April Bowl felt "hurricane force", making it difficult to stand, hold on to ski poles, etc.
Snow surface
Surfaces range from scoured to basal ice, bare ground, wind crust, wind slab, high amplitude sastrugi, etc.
Snowpack
No stability tests performed.
Natural D2 wind slab avalanche, NE aspect of Martin Ridge, 3900'. Occurred some time between 3 pm and 5 pm Thursday. Appears to have stepped down to deeper weak layers.
Closer view of avalanche pictured above.
The west side of Hatcher Pass, pictured here, avalanched during the wind event early morning Saturday 3/9. It is now completely reloaded with a hard wind slab. Note the depth of burial of the trail marker in the foreground.
Wind transport on Microdot
Wind transport on Granite Mountain, cross loading the NE couloirs.
Wind transport on Gold Cord Peak
Wind transport in Nose Hair Chutes and Pinnacle area