Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Presidents Ridge

Date:
Observer:
Fredrik Norrsell
Route & General Observations

Skied the lower slopes on Presidents Ridge. Overall ski quality was excellent with 6-8″ of fist hard new snow on top of the old mix of windslabs and facets.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger No
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect East Northeast
Elevation 2800ftSlope Angle 39deg
Crown Depth 5inWidth 15ft
Vertical Run 50ft  
Avalanche Details

Two ski cuts on a small 38-40ยบ rollover produced small soft slab releases in the Fist hard new snow.

Red Flags
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Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Another party ahead of us on the uptrack (the first party of the day) reported hearing one collapse.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Light snowfall and very light wind in morning, with winds subsiding to calm in the afternoon. Clouds gradually lifting throughout the day.

Snow surface

6-8" of new snow.

Snowpack

Numerous hand shears indicated that new snow is bonding poorly to underlying facets. That said the new snow was fist hard, and in most areas didn't behave in a slablike manner. Up to roughly 2800' there was a thin layer of moist facets under the new snow.

Photos & Video
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The small slab(s) that released during the skicuts.  

Location
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