Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: West Marmot 2

Date:
Observer:
Jed Workman Professional
Route & General Observations

From Fishhok Lot, traveled up the Marmot south ridge, across ridgeline to the north to the weather station. Skied down Rae Wallace, wrapped back around to Fishhook Lot.

 

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

Very stubborn shooting cracks

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

Skies: scattered clouds with the delivery of abundant sunlight through the cloud layer envelope over the Chugach.

Snow surface

Wind crust, sastrugi, sun crust, old NSF, wind slab

Snowpack

old WS- Stubborn wind slabs at ridgeline 4-6" thick on West Marmot 2. Wind slabs in Rae Wallace unreactive to ski cutting up to 1 foot thick, but hand shears failing on isolation and on easy force (from wrist) in some locations.
PWL- Pit results ECTX with weak layer of concern 55cm down, on West Marmot 2, 29deg slope, in wind loaded location, HS 115cm, high strength, poor structure, no prop.

Photos & Video
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4190', N, Rae Wallace, hollow snow structure profile  

West Marmot 2  

West Marmot, 4000'  

 

sastrugi  

sun crust - likely from early in the week, then buried by wind transported snow  

Location
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