I stomped on the newly formed wind slab near ridgeline on a West aspect at 4400' and triggered a small D1 wind slab approximately 6'x10' and ran 20 ' then stopped. The slab was approximately 6-8" deep.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Peak 4068' to Peak 4600' to Bowl West of Government (aka Dog Bowl)
Toured up the north side of 4068′ towards peak 4600′ and the west bowl of Government to seek out the sun, run from the clouds, assess newly formed thin wind slabs, and find good snow. We did not observe any red flags today expect for triggering a small wind slab near ridgeline that barely moved. Warmer temperatures over the past few days combined with new snow from 2/3-4 have turned our square faceted powder into slightly more dense snow surfaces which are still quite enjoyable.
Avalanche Details
Observer Comments
Minimal cracking was observed from newly formed thin 1-2" thick wind slabs in isolated locations near ridgeline on west to north aspects. No whumping or recent avalanches were observed today.
Weather
Calm to light winds today. Winds did gust SE for 4 hours on 2/7 20-34 mph at 4500'.
No new snow since 2/3-4 which brought 6" new at 3500'.
Balmy temps compared to last week.
Temps at 1pm
4500' 19deg F
3500' 24deg F
2700' 30deg F
Snow surface
Snow surfaces were varied today. Surfaces included cakey powder, soft snow barely cohesive enough to act as a slab, 1-2" thick winds slabs at and near ridgeline, slightly inverted snow in the top 6" of the snowpack from 2/3-4, and firm surfaces blown down to the Oct crust on windward aspects at ridgeline at 4500',
Snowpack
No exciting results to report here!
Hand pits revealed that slabs were barely cohesive enough to act as a slab, stubborn, and more often broke apart during isolation with no concerning results.
Findings from pole tests throughout the day included slightly cohesive slabs in isolated locations with upside down snow from inverted temps during the last storm. In addition, new thin wind slabs were stubborn and well bonded near ridgeline.
2/7 New thin 4F wind slabs found near ridgeline in isolated locations on W to N aspects.
2/7 Newly formed wind slabs are visible but not a problem in most locations , Peak 4600'.
2/7 Rideglines are both scoured and loaded with newly formed thin wind slabs that are mostly unreactive 4500'.
2/7 Small wind slab visible just below ridgeline above tracks on the left. W Goverment 4400'.
2/7 Stomping on a ridge on a west aspect produced cracking and triggered a small wind slab 6'x10' that barely moved , West bowl of Government 4400'.
2/7 Debris from small human triggered wind slab