Hatcher Pass

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all aspects and elevations.

Hatcher Pass received 3 inches of new snow this week, mildly improving snow surfaces. 

Cooler temperatures, light snowfall and dry loose sluffs will be on the menu today. 

Despite the unlikely nature of triggering an avalanche today, we will still pay attention to any red flags and use safe travel protocols. Good habits keep us safer. Expose one person at a time, have escape routes planned, and watch your partners closely.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Are you a motorized user? Join us March 17th at Eagle River Polaris at 6PM for a Forecaster Chat/State of the Snowpack with HPAC avalanche forecasters. 

We have been forecasting LOW danger since February 6th which is hard to believe and have broken the record for the number of "low danger-normal caution" forecasts in a row at Hatcher Pass. With a few inches of new snow this week and 6 to 9 inches in the month of March at 3550', we have eliminated the majority of avalanche problems off the menu. That being said, a few outliers such as dry loose and shallow slabs may be possible in isolated locations or extreme terrain and are listed below.  Today's new snow won't amount to much, but will make visibility and route choice more challenging. 

If you’re getting into steep terrain today, maintain smart travel protocol to minimize the consequences of getting caught by surprise in an unlikely avalanche. Only expose one person at a time to steep terrain, and keep an eye on your partners from safe spots out of the way of avalanche paths. Plan your routes carefully, and have an exit strategy in mind if you do trigger an avalanche.

DRY LOOSE AVALANCHES:  A few inches of new snow this week combined with old faceted snow surfaces are sitting on old firm bed surfaces in many locations.  The most likely locations for triggering a dry loose avalanche (aka sluff) today will be on steep convexities and rollovers in terrain 40º and steeper on all aspects and all elevations.  They are most hazardous if you are caught and carried into a terrain trap such as a gully, cliff, or couloir.  While most sluffs will be small, getting caught in steep terrain that funnels into any terrain trap has the potential to increase the size, risk and consequence of an avalanche.

SHALLOW SLABS: A couple of people reported observing or triggering small shallow slabs over the last week in and outside the forecast area. Outliers may exist in steep terrain at or below ridgeline on leeward aspects.  Look for classic signs of wind loading, smooth rounded pillows, hollow feeling snow, and cracking in the snow around you.  

RECENT AVALANCHES

No recent avalanches have been reported since Thursdays's forecast. For avalanches earlier in the week, see observations here.