Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Marmot Mountain Sw Face > Rae Wallace

Date:

January 18, 2018 2:00pm

Observer:

Jed Workman Professional

Route & General Observations

IMB > SW Marmot > RW Flag Chute

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?	No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?	No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?	Yes

Observer Comments

Minor, localized, shallow cracking = wind blown snow over NSF

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

Clear > Partly Sunny (FEW) in PM
No Precip
12:35 3100' -6C 5.5mph NE Down valley breeze
14:10 4000' -3.6C Calm
15:12 4250' -3.5C 1.8mph SE

Snow surface

Highly variable surfaces
Rounds faceting 0.25mm wind-packed and rounds faceting NSF
Wind scoured to crusts
Sastrugi
6-12" Pencil wind slab on loaded sidewalls and leeward over facets HS 225@ 3500'
2 cm windblown soft snow over NSF with localized cracking

Snowpack

No Whumphing
No cracking (other than localized, small)
No recent avalanches

Upper pack recent wind slab
6-12" pencil hard over NSF
Variable strength
Poor structure
Variable propagation
High friction in some locations

Mid-pack burried PWL
Strong strength
Poor structure
Low propagation

Photos & Video

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