Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- isolated
Isolated pockets of hard, old wind slabs leftover from the December wind events can be found in isolated terrain where there is enough snow. These wind slabs showed no signs of instability outside of small, relatively shallow chunks breaking over a heavily faceted mid and lower snowpack. Biggest hazard being they could knock you off your feet.
We experienced isolated cracking in steep terrain where old, knife hard wind slabs sit over weak, sugary snow. These never exhibited energy and cracked under foot. In steeper terrain (35*+) these blocks of wind slabs were 3-4" thick and broke up in chunks.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Very cold and clear with light wind.
Snowpack
Observed mostly a shallow snowpack with some deeper pockets of wind loading up to 3ft deep. The snowpack is a mixture of soft and faceted snow, breakable crust, or supportable crust on top of facets. While there is not much snow to contribute to the hazard of avalanches, our biggest concern right now is sliding through rocks and firm snow conditions. It would be a good idea to have ski crampons and even an ice axe while traveling in Hatcher Pass at the moment.