Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Japanese Trees/ Upper Glades

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Toured through the trees to top of alder line. Lots of whumphing and propagation throughout the day.

 

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

Broke trail through the trees to the bench above the alder line. Had significant whumphs/collapsing and shooting cracks all day long. We kept terrain very mellow and avoided the steep gullies between ribs. We had whumphs propagate above us, on the up, anywhere from localized to over 50/60 yards above us. On the decent, had propagation above and to the side of ski tracks. Noticed natural slides in several of the gullies, the slopes above the trees, marmot, 4068... light was flat so it was difficult to see all of them. Due to the low angle we chose today, we did not have anything slide on us. Most of the collapsing seemed to fail on that thick layer of large grained facets near the ground.

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

High overcast, flat light, 20 degrees, very light wind above alder line that diminished throughout the day.

Snow surface

Settled powder from recent snow this week. Ski pen ranged from ankle deep to knee deep when breaking trail (I'm 5"4'). Ski poles still penetrated to ground most of the day.

Snowpack

No formal pits were dug.

Photos & Video
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