No cracking, collapsing or recent avalanches were observed today.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Valley of Sin>Women's Run
It has been a busy week of sunshine, powder skiing, and 7+ human/remotely triggered avalanches. Skiers have tackled most low hanging fruit terrain in the pass and gotten a lot of feedback about our March Warming persistent weak layer. We toured up the Valley of Sin to do a crown profile of the Women’s Run avalanche that occurred on 4/7. We did not observe any red flags today> no whumping, cracking, or recent avalanches. Light ESE winds kept snow surfaces cool and faceted snow surfaces on northerly aspects.
Observer Comments
Weather
New snow:Last new snow was on 4/4-4/5 with 10" reported at IM @ 3550'.
Wind: Winds were calm in the valley and light with moderate gusts at ridgetop, ESE 11-16 mph gusting 21-26 for 4 hours @ 4500'
Temps: lows/highs
4500': 16*F/ 20*F
3550: 18*F/27*F
2700: 24*F/35*F
Snow surface
Snow surfaces remained cold and faceted on northerly terrain today above 3000'. South aspects at upper elevation barely warmed up and were sun softened and not moist in the afternoon. East and west aspects faceted out a bit overnight but still have deteriorating crusts. In general, light winds kept snow surfaces cool.
Snowpack
See snowpilot and sidewall pit photo of Women's Run avalanche.
Crown and bed surface from Peak 4068' avalanche from 4/7 on a West aspect @3900' SS-ASu-D2/2.5-O
.5-1mm facet culprit weak layer that failed in the Women's Run avalanche 4/7
Crown and smooth facet/crust bed surface on the Women's Run avalanche that occurred on 4/7
Debris on the Women's Run avalanche that occurred on 4/7 NW 3500' SS-ASr-D2-O
Peak 4068' avalanche from 4/7 on a West aspect @3900' SS-ASu-D2/2.5-O
NW 3500' Debris on the Women's Run avalanche that occurred on 4/7 SS-ASr-D2-O
.5-1mm facet culprit weak layer that failed in the Women's Run avalanche 4/7
Crown and bed surface of Women's run avalanche that occurred on 4/7 NW 3500' SS-ASr-D2-O
4/9/24 Women's Run Crown Profile of 4/7/24 Skier triggered-remote avalanche
4/9/24 Women's Run Crown Profile