| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Rae Wallace Fan
Started at IM parking lot and toured up standard Micro-dot route then cut right to find a similar aspect as Rae Wallace to dig a pit. Cracking, whomping, shooting cracks were occurring on all aspects and elevations toured. Came down via the sled hill and triggered a D1+ avy.
Obvious signs of instability
Weather
Moderate to strong winds at IM parking lot, started to die down slightly towards end of day. Wind gusts were ripping off ridgetops all day. Poor flat light visibility beginning of tour (11:00am), turned to scattered clouds and blue skies around noon. New snow being blown around causing rapid windloading on all aspects and elevations toured on.
Snow surface
Wind ripples on snow surface, active windloading
Snowpack
Dug at 3,500' near the base of Rae Wallace, on a NW aspect. Dug in a protected area to try and escape the wind. HS: 140cm, top 60cm was new snow that varied from F to 4F hardness, 80cm to ground consisted of facets of varying size and hardness. Biggest layer of concern was the top of the facet layer that is now buried 60cm down. Reactive test results showed:
CT8-RP@110, CT13-BRK@97, CT21-SC@79
ECTN3@110, ECTN13@97, ECTP19@79
PST 30/100 End @79
Wind effect evident on surfaces near and far
Avy triggered at the top of Sled hill
IMG_5309