Hatcher Pass

Human-triggered avalanches are unlikely; the avalanche danger is LOW above 2500'. 

If you were to find trouble, it would be in previously wind-loaded gullies or faces where you find thin slabs of wind-drifted snow, over weak snow below.

Take a moment to consider the consequences of even a small slide knocking you off your feet in steep terrain. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HPAC Winter Raffle tickets are now on sale! Tickets are $40 each or $100 for a 3-pack, and winners will be drawn on March 2. Enter for a chance to win:

•  Two Alaska Airlines roundtrip tickets, “anywhere we fly”
• A guided heli ski day with Chugach Powder Guides
• New skis from Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking
• A two-night stay at Hatcher Pass Lodge

Single ticket link here. 3-pack ticket link here.

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Join us for our next State of the Snowpack chat on Wednesday, January 14th, at the Blue and Gold Boardshop in Wasilla. We will be excited to debrief the December drought and dive into shifting trends and the outlook as Hatcher Pass receives its first snow of 2026. Skeetawk will also be there to discuss their Management Plan for the area. 

General Conditions

At upper elevations, snow exists in thin, windblown ribbons between rocks, brush, and scoured grass. Where snow remains, expect a mix of:

• Sugary faceted snow
• Breakable crusts
• Dense wind slabs
• Firm, icy bed surfaces

Avalanches aren’t the only concern today. Additional hazards include:

• Bitter cold and frostbite risk
• Shallow, exposed rocks
• Firm surfaces with slide-for-life potential

Persistent Slabs

This season has been marked by strong winds, cold temperatures, and long stretches without snowfall. This has left the Hatcher Pass snowpack variable and weak. The good news is that the snowpack has had ample time to adjust to the small amount of loading it has seen, making large human-triggered avalanches unlikely. If you were to find trouble, it would most likely be where last weekend's strong winds built dense slabs of wind-drifted snow up to 12" thick, over weak sugary snow below (Observation). These slides will likely be small in size, but large enough to knock you off your feet and carry you downhill. 

In isolated places across the forecast area, older, thicker, and stiffer wind drifts formed by strong December winds still harbor ugly weak snow in the middle of the snowpack. These dense slabs of snow are helping armor the weak snow below, making triggering slides unlikely, but in the off chance a skier or rider finds the sweet spot, these slides could have serious consequences. 

Watch for:

• Smooth, firm, or breakable slabs over weak sugary snow
• Small pockets breaking above you and pushing you into hazards
• Isolated slabs on many aspects throughout the area

Looking Forward:

With a few snowy days ahead, expect the likelihood of triggering a slide to increase. It won't take much to push the fledgling Hatcher Pass snowpack to the limit. A weak start to the winter season brought with it a worrying setup as we enter into what will hopefully be a snowier start to January. While this next storm will likely improve travel and skiing/riding conditions, be wary of stepping onto steep slopes during these next few days of snow showers. 

 

Recent Avalanches:

On Wednesday, December 31st, forecasters triggered a couple of small wind-loaded pockets mid-slope in Eldorado Bowl. Read the full observation here. Several small, natural wind slab avalanches (D1) have been observed throughout IM Bowl as a result of the most recent (12/28-29) rounds of wind. On Sunday, Dec. 28th, Forecasters in the field intentionally triggered several small (D1) wind slab avalanches on Marmot. See all recent observations here.