Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: Snowbird

Date:
Observer:
Eric Mclean
Contact, Location & General Observations
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Forecaster Comments

Persistent slab and wind slab problems on slopes greater than 35 deg.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SnowboarderRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type UnknownAspect Unknown
Elevation 5000ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown Depth 12inWidth 30ft
Vertical Rununknown  
Avalanche Details

Snowmachiner dropped rider at top of Snowbird glacier, rider dropped into a wind loaded aspect. Small slide, somewhere around D1.5/2. Rider deployed air bag and floated down the approx 300 ft run of the aspect. Prior to observing the slide from our skin track, witnessed much larger slide drop off Yisbo's east culiour which slid all the way across the glacier towards the hut, 1-2ft deep crown, ran 100 feet. We deemed it a remote trigger due to other evidence of natural slides on same aspects. Slide was very large (no photo). All avalanches were on slopes greater than 35 deg.

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

Storm snow, wind

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Snowed approximately 4" Saturday, adding to last weekend's new snow. Obvious wind loading on eastern aspects after midnight gusts and elevated temps around noon.

Snowpack

Obvious wind loading in gullies and blind rollers

Photos & Video
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