No recent avalanches, shooting cracks or collapsing were observed.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Lower Marmot
Went for a quick tour up lower Marmot to get an idea of how the wind affected the snowpack. No surprise that the winds ravaged Hatcher Pass. Signs of wind effected snow was observed at lower elevations.
Observer Comments
Weather
Broken sky, with light winds from the SE. Visibility was great and was useful for avoiding sastrugi and other wind features.
Snow surface
It seems like every type of wind effected snow can be found in the forecast area. In the small area, we experienced pencil-hard wind slabs, thin breakable wind slabs, and old rain crusts. In some areas near ridge tops tundra could be seen. Riding quality leaves much to be desired.
Snowpack
Overall the snowpack in our pit location had poor structure, moderate strength, and high propagation potential. We found pencil hard wind slab over a foot thick at the surface, and fist hard basal facets at the ground. Extended column tests failed and propagated on the basal facets at the ground. The snowpack depth seems to be highly variable depending on the aspect due to wind.
Marmot SSW 3100'
28 degree slope
HS 145cm
ECTP12 at the ground, failed on 2-3mm rounding facets.
North Face of 4068' The old rain crusts that formed on
Signs of previous winds at Martin Mine.
Wind texture on Lower Marmot
Anti Tracks and old avalanche debris on Skyscraper
Signs of wind effect and a previous avalanche that occurred over during the wind event.
More signs of wind up Gold Mint Valley.