Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Microdot

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Standard S route up Microdot

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Observer Comments

No obvious signs, Basal Facets collapsed in several snowpit tests

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

Clouds obscuring view moving in and out in the afternoon
Air Temp -10 degrees C
Light winds from the NE

Snow surface

Soft dry Fluff,

Snowpack

Tests along skin track showed roughly 16cm of dry snow above a crust that would crack at times but not collapse under foot. Below the crust a layer of facets were widespread or varying depths from 30-70cm. Ski Pen:16cm, Boot Pen: 61cm

At 3700’ we dug pits with varying depths and results. On a SW Aspect, 21degree slope we had a snow depth of 86cm. Hardness results showed 24cm F dry snow over the 18cm1F Mfc and F from 44cm to the bottom, the last 19cm very sugary. Other pits were much deeper in cross loaded slopes with stiffer wind slab snow layers.

Shovel tilt Test: Easy, Q2 failure down 15cm.
CTN, CT25 Q1 Collapsing at basal facets
ECTN29 No Propagation

Overall structure was weak without significant new loading

Photos & Video
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