Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Thousand Dollar Run

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Toured up Thousand Dollar Run to check out wind effect on snow. Reached about 4300 ft before turning around due to winds and visibility

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

Rapid wind loading!

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

Rimed Particles S1, strong winds with extreme gusts, -2 celsius. Rain line seemed to be below fishhook parking lot.

Snow surface

One finger wind slab forming 5-15cm on leeward aspects. A thin crust was observed starting at 3700' on surface and continued all the way to 4300'.

Snowpack

Wind slab was reactive in hand pits and failing on isolation in several locations.