Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: NW-facing slope of Lynx Peak

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Ski loop over Bomber Pass and Snowbird Pass.

Avalanche Details
If this is an avalanche observation, click yes below and fill in the form as best as you can. If people were involved, please provide details.
Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Hard SlabAspect Northwest
Elevation 5500ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown Depth 18inWidth 90ft
Vertical Rununknown  
Avalanche Details

Fracture line on a convex slope between gullies on NW aspect of the SW ridge of Lynx Peak (6536). About 150 feet under the ridge. Fell over cliff directly below starting zone. Ground or rock visible in areas of the starting zone. Ridge above was corniced.

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
Observer Comments

Fracture line visible near near Upper Reed Lake. Also, debris from small avalanche, above Glacier Creek (flows into Reed Creek) on steep west-facing slope.

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

light north wind
temp teens low 20s
light snow flurries in late afternoon

Snow surface

crusty windblown layer. sometimes a dusting of powder on top of the crust.

Snowpack

Pit in basin above Upper Reed Lake below Bomber Pass. 1"-3" powdery snow on top of a hard wind crust, then 3-4" faceted snow transitioning to a deep layer of harder snow. Old ice crust about 2 feet down, but not weak.

Variable snowpack on the steeper aspects near the top of the climb to Bomber Pass from Reed Lake (south-south-west slope). Windblown surface. 1-4" wind slab in places, but not extensive. Icy crust on the surface in most places. Deep soft faceted snow on top of harder snow in many areas, especially around rocks. In shallow snowpack (4-20" ice-axe depth), all of the snow under the crust was faceted to the ground. Boots occasionally plunged through the crust to depth of up to 10", other times it was necessary to kick harder into the crust to make steps and use force to plunge the ice axe into the snow.