Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

Location: X4068 North Face

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Toured on X4068 this afternoon. Starting from Fishhook Lot, taking the Low-Low traverse around to the East ridge to avoid loaded ridge features with deep hard slabs. Previous portions of these slabs had avalanched naturally, likely during the prolonged Valentines blow of 40-50 mph gusting. Dug a few pits along the way inspecting various snow structures. Observed recent natural activity on Whimpy’s at the top, also likely Valentines day. Skied North ridge with lowest slope angles, dug a couple pits. Found very reactive shallow persistent slabs on near surface facets, weak strength, poor structure, high energy, and deep, basal facets, stubborn, strong strength, poor structure, high energy.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger0
Avalanche Type Hard SlabAspect North
Elevation 3500ftSlope Angle 35deg
Crown Depth 24inWidth 200ft
Vertical Run 200ft  
Avalanche Details

Hard slab

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

Only older and few, from the valentine's wind event

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

Overcast, intermittent snow flurries
Calm
14 F

Snow surface

2-4" new snow over varying older snow surfaces, knife hard wind packed, fist hard facets to ground

Snowpack

Shallow slabs, weak strength, poor structure, high energy
deep, basal weak layer with 2-4 foot slabs, strong strength, poor structure high energy

Photos & Video
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