Hatcher Pass

The avalanche hazard is LOW throughout the forecast area. 

A modest shot of snow this week has improved conditions greatly. 

New snow has bonded well to old snow surfaces but isolated instabilities exist.

Dry and wet sluffs are possible in steep terrain while some thin slabs are lingering at upper elevations. 

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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. 

The 4-6" of new snow we received this week has improved conditions greatly. Cold and clear conditions followed the storm and allowed the snow to dry out and facet. The new snow fell on a variety of surfaces including stiff wind board, sun and wind crusts, and loose facets. Overall the recent snow has bonded well to old surfaces, but some lingering instabilites exist. Since the storm cleared, the instabilities we've observed have all been within the new snow and isolated to loose dry and wet avalanches for the most part. Some light wind effect at upper elevations is also contributing to variability in the snow's consistency. Overall, conditions continue to be smooth and supportable, favoring good riding and fast travel, with soft turns easily found on many aspects of the compass. Today, expect increasing clouds and elevated winds to produce some moderate wind effect as a storm moves through to our south.

DRY LOOSE AVALANCHES: Where recent snow fell on faceted surfaces it's less well bonded, and traveling across these slopes is likely to get some snow moving. It will be possible to trigger a dry loose sluff in shady aspects on slopes generally steeper than 40°. Mind your sluff, and remember it doesn't take much snow to knock you off your feet in consequential terrain.

WIND / PERSISTENT SLABS: The recent snow was preceded by strong winds and riders are observing some moderate wind effect on ridgelines. It may be possible to trigger a small old wind slab at or just below the ridgeline on leeward aspects, west to north, above 4500'. Expect any lingering slabs to be small, up to 6" thick, manageable, and stubborn to trigger. In more alpine terrain we've observed some mid-slope wind effect that deposited slabs on faceted grains. These slabs are isolated, stubborn, and have been observed mid slope on steep northerly facing aspects. While manageable, they could be surprising in consequential terrain. Watch out for areas of stiff or punchy snow if you're traveling into higher terrain outside the forecast area. 

WET AVALANCHES: Rollerballing and loose wet activity has been observed throughout the forecast area. As the sun increases in strength, look for wetting of the snow surfaces and instabilities to increase with the heat of the day. Wet avalanches may be possible with warming at all elevations as temperatures rise and the sun gains strength. Be especially cautious on solar aspects where the recent snow fell on slick sun crusts and it will be easier to initiate loose wet and push-alanche activity. Because of the thickness of the snow, these slides will be more difficult to manage and the general guidance is to avoid solar aspects where the surface snow is getting thick, sticky, or wet. 

RECENT AVALANCHES:

A few small natural and human triggered dry and wet loose avalanches (sluffs) were observed Friday and Saturday in steep terrain. On Saturday, skiers were able to initiate some small loose wet activity on solar aspects and a party in Lone Tree Gulch triggered a small persistent slab while skiing a steep NE facing slope at about 4500'. See all recent observations here.