Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: S. end Gold Cord Basin

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Skied from Independence Mine PL up maintenance trail to S. end Gold Cord Basin.

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?No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

Ski cuts on W. facing gully wall 0.1 mi N. of PL resulted in 6 in sluffs of wind transported snow sliding on M/F crust. See attached pic.

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

Party to mostly cloudy with calm winds and no new snow. Temps warming throut the day. At 1500 suface snow temp = -1C.

Snow surface

Wind transported snow with mix of loose and wind crust on slope. Boot penetration = 18 cm.

Snowpack

Faceting wind-transported snow on top of M/F crust with buried wind slab and more facets beneath to ground. CT14Q1@45cm. ECT14@45cm with no propagation. Wind slab breaking on layer of facets. Temp profile on lower snowpack showed > 1C/10cm snow. Enough to cause observed faceting in lower snowpack. Wind transported snow transitioning to facets. See attached snow pit.

Photos & Video
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