Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Skyscraper Peak

Date:
Observer:
Workman Barker/Haffener Professional
Route & General Observations

IMB>Eldorado Bowl>Skyscraper North
Wind affected, drizzle crust on surface to our highpoint at 4300ยด
Recent winds were only capable of moving small amounts of snow due to “drizzle” surface crust locking down the vault of powder.
HS averaged 120-150cm

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

No Avalanches
One localised whumph
Localized cracking on recent wind deposited snow

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

Calm
Clear to few clouds
-8C @ 3736' @ noon

Snow surface

(surface hoar in wind protected areas over) 1mm drizzle crust to 4300'
wind deposited snow 2-6" deep in patchy distribution, in isolated locations on northerly aspects this wind deposited snow is cohesive enough to produce localized cracking over the drizzle crusts, near surface facets and graupel.
PB 20cm, PS 8cm

Snowpack

General impressions: Human triggered slab avalanches stubborn, no recent slab avalanches. 2/12 wind transport is not a major concern. Primary concern continues to be mid to deep faceted layers approx. 40-150cm down.

NE, 3k' - 4.3k', HS 120-140cm, 3 pits
down 15-30cm ECTN and CT mod to hard BKN,RP
down 25-40cm on 4F facets below recent new and wind deposited snow, CT mod to hard RP, one showing 1.0 old stellars with possible really old surface hoar.

4k', N - down 100/140cm CT17SC on basal facets

Photos & Video
Please upload photos below. Maximum of 5 megabytes per image. Click here for help on resizing images. If you are having trouble uploading please email images separately to staff.

Skyscraper, North, 4000'  

Location
Click to Explore Location.