Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Microdot & Birthday Pass

Date:
Observer:
Billy Finley
Route & General Observations

Toured up and down Microdot; toured up and down Birthday Pass. Handful of backcountry skiers out on Microdot and Gold Chord. Snow was rock hard and never softened up above 4000′.

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)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Temps in the high 20s / low 30s. Clear skies and light winds in the morning; cloudy and windy with gusts to 30mph in the afternoon.

Snow surface

For the most part everything is rock hard refrozen mank. Above 4500' there is a light dusting of soft snow on N facing slopes. Snow above 4000' was supportable for skis and booting all day - however whenever we attempted to boot near exposed rocks we'd break through to thigh / waist. Below 4000' snow was supportable until midday.

Photos & Video
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Wet slides / debris in Rae Wallace chutes.  

Wet slides / debris in Rae Wallace chutes / NW face of Marmot.  

Col between Microdot ridge / Rae Wallace.  

Debris piles at base of Lost Couloir.  

Location
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