Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Road Obs

Date:
Observer:
Allie Barker Forecaster
Route & General Observations

Drove up the road to observe avalanche activity from the past few days. Observed 1-2 day old storm slabs, wind slabs, persistent slabs, and dry loose sluffs.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger Unknown
Avalanche Type Hard SlabAspect Northwest
Elevation 3100ftSlope Angle 38deg
Crown Depth3ftWidthunknown
Vertical Run 1000ft  
Avalanche Details

Observed a large D2.5 slab that likely occurred on 3/2 or early 3/3, on the Punk Spines near Arkose ridge at about 3100'. The crown looks approx 3.5' deep and likely failed on old facets from January. The debris ran over 1000' into the drainage below. Large hard slab chunks can be seen with binos. This avalanche is a good example of the low probability/high consequence event we have been forecasting for weeks.

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

Road obs:
1-2 day old D1 wind slabs on W to NE aspects at mid and upper elevation.
1-2 day old D1-2 storm slabs on all aspects at all elevations. Observed storm slab on South aspect/Sunnyside of Hatch. Soft slab debris ran into the creek bottom.
Mostly small, dry loose sluffs observed on steep terrain on all aspects at mid and upper elevation today. Observed D1.5 human triggered dry loose on south side of skyscraper today.
Observed 1-2 day old avalanches today up Archangel Valley, Pinnacle Valley, Arkose Ridge, Hatch Peak, and Skyscraper.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

2/29-3/1: Winds SE 9-28 mph, G 20-53
3/1-3/2 : 8-12" new snow and 1.3" SWE
Temps -2.6F at 4500' at 3pm. 0 degF at 3550' at 3pm.

Snow surface

New light density snow in protected locations. Firm wind board/ wind pressed snow on windward aspects and some ridges.

Snowpack

No formal tests were done today.

Photos & Video
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Punk Spines Slab Avalanches 3/2 or 3/3?  

Punk Spines Slab Avalanche HS-N-D2.5-O , 3100', NW, 3/2 or 3/3?  

Storm Slab on Sunnyside of Hatch ,3500', South aspect, 3/2?  

Skyscraper Dry Loose 3800', East aspect, 3/4  

Location
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