| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Hard Slab | Aspect | South Southeast |
| Elevation | 4400ft | Slope Angle | 35deg |
| Crown Depth | 10ft | Width | 700ft |
| Vertical Run | 1000ft |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Upper Gold Cord Basin, SW of Birthday Pass
Avalanche Details
Hard slab naturally triggered slide that ran approximately 300 vertical feet and subsequently appears to have triggered a soft slab/loose snow avalanche with runout that ran another 300 vertical feet down to and over a terrain trap then down a low angle gully to the nearly level valley floor. Other smaller "composite" avalanches were observed in the basin as well. The bed surface of the hard slab avalanche was very smooth and did not go all the way to the ground. Classification: HS->SS-N-S-U-D3-D2.5/D3-O
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Heavy snow overnight followed by high winds transporting new snow snow.
Weather
Heavy new snow overnight with 12+" accumulation with a SE wind to 10 MPH followed by clearing skies and a wind shift the the NW with gusts to 30+ MPH. Temps in the 20sF except during solar-noon where they got up new 32F.
Snow surface
Heavy new wind blown and drifted snow forming soft slabs.
Snowpack
Late season storm over deep existing snow pack with known persistent weak layer.
Shows starting zone, crown face and bed surface. SSE aspect 4400' ASL
Shows complete compound avalanche, hard slab crown face and soft slab run out into and over terrain trap and down gully