Boletín de aludes

Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sun
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
1 · Débil
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 7 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 3,500' for Persistent Slab avalanches. The danger is LOW elsewhere. 

It remains possible to trigger a large avalanche on weak snow near the ground. This problem is most concerning on steep upper-elevation slopes, where the snowpack remains shallow and rocky. 

Strong winds this week created fresh drifts that could still be reactive. Look for slopes with signs of fresh wind loading and be wary of entering steep terrain where you suspect a shallow snowpack or see exposed rocks in the steepest part of the slope. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Tonight is the night! Come celebrate with us at the 8th Annual HPAC Cabin Fever Reliever! Great food, drinks, and music by The Super Saturated Sugar Strings! More info and tickets in the pinned post and on our website at hpavalanche.org.

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    It's been a week since a party on Microdot remote triggered a large persistent slab avalanche (observation here). During that time, mild temperatures have promoted settlement, but faceting has continued throughout our thin snowpack. It remains possible to trigger a consequential avalanche 1-3' deep on weak snow near the ground.

    You are most likely to encounter this problem in upper-elevation terrain where our season's snowpack is resting on weak, sugary snow near the ground. Your chances of finding and triggering a persistent slab avalanche up to 3' deep will be highest near steep, shallow, rocky terrain.

    The easiest way to manage this problem is to select terrain with a steepness of less than about 30 degrees. If you do choose to get into avalanche terrain (slopes steeper than 30 degrees), you can pick terrain with a seemingly uniformly deep snow pack greater than about 3' deep—although be aware that you could trigger a slide from the edges or the middle of a slope where the snowpack is shallow and variable. 

    Naturally triggered persistent slab avalanche in Upper Willow Creek.

    Photo: Andy Paul

Avalanche Discussion

Weak snow near the ground remains a concern throughout the forecast area. While it's been a week since we've observed any avalanches, snowpit profiles and tests confirm that this layer could still be reactive to human trigger in shallow locations, generally less than 1 meter deep. It can be tricky dealing with a stubborn, persistent slab problem because you will receive very little feedback from the snowpack. While test results are improving, and we're receiving fewer reports of cracking and collapsing, the snowpack structure remains such that this problem is still a possibility.

Slopes with a shallow snowpack remain the primary concern, where buried weak layers are closer to the surface, making it easier for a skier or rider to trigger an avalanche. Be wary of stepping onto steep slopes with a shallow snowpack and exposed rocks—especially where the winds have stiffened the snow surface. You can hedge your bets by lowering your slope angle or seeking slopes that appear to be uniformly deep, have clean runouts, and have few exposed rocks in the upper part of the slope. You may be able to trigger slides from the edges or the bottom of slopes where the snowpack depth is shallow and variable.

Despite no recent snowfall and relatively little snow available for transport, strong easterly winds this week reset snow surfaces and created fresh drifts at mid and upper-elevations. Some ridgelines were scoured, and shallow slabs were deposited alongside gullies and mid-slope convexities. Keep an eye out for smooth slopes and cross-loaded gullies where you could still encounter lingering instabilities 

RECENT AVALANCHES: 

Last weekend, a party remotely triggered a large persistent slab avalanche on Microdot after several people had skied the slope. Read the forecaster observation for Microdot here. There have been no reported or observed avalanches in the last week. See all recent observations here.

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