Hatcher Pass

The avalanche hazard is LOW at mid and upper elevations on all aspects. Yesterday marked the return of strong, northerly winds to the Mat-Su Valley. However, there is a silver lining to our already dismal snowpack--we do not have significant snow available for transport to build new slabs. 

It remains challenging to access rideable terrain.  If you venture out and find areas with smooth, skiable surface conditions, it will be unlikely but not impossible to trigger a small avalanche. You are most likely to encounter rideable snow in areas that were previously or recently wind-loaded and in steep and extreme terrain at upper elevations. Remember that with such low coverage, even a small avalanche could have higher consequences. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Big thanks to everyone who joined us at our Rescue Rendezvous yesterday, especially all of the industry partners that helped make it possible.

We have an app for easy access to avalanche information and observations on the go. You can download the app for free in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

We are in another chapter of high-pressure weather paired with high winds and cold temperatures. This second bout of wind follows last weekend's (December 5th to 9th) intense winds, which left the upper elevations resembling a harsh moonscape, with frozen tussocks, exposed rocks, and patches of firm snow. We did experience a brief cycle of faceting (loosening) of snow last week following the major wind event, but there is little snow available for transport in the forecast area. 

You could still find small, thin wind slabs forming over old, dense wind slabs below. These slabs are generally thick, stiff, and supportable, and they all overlay a weak, sugary bottom of the snowpack. While they have trended difficult to trigger and stubborn since last weekend's wind event, keep an eye out for hollow feeling snow surfaces, collapsing or shooting cracks as you assess a rideable slope. Where either new or old slabs exist in more open terrain, you could still trigger a small pocket of wind-drifted snow. This is a low in likelihood, small in size but high in consequence setup: you are unlikely to get buried by an avalanche today, but falls due to variable surfaces or a surprise, small avalanche could knock you off your feet and carry you where you don't want to go —especially in steep and extreme terrain. Remember that "LOW" danger does not mean "NO" danger. 

On Friday, near Friendship Pass, we found a wide variety of snow surfaces, ranging from old faceted snow capped by thin wind skins, to thick, dense old wind slabs welded into the surrounding rocks.

As always, practice safe travel techniques when entering avalanche terrain by skiing or riding slopes one at a time. Be sure to carry and wear the appropriate rescue gear, and travel with a knowledgeable partner. 

Recent Avalanches:

On Tuesday, a party triggered a small avalanche while ascending the lower flanks of Marmot. See the observation here. 

Over the week, forecasters have continued to observe evidence of natural avalanches triggered by last weekend's wind. This includes size 2 slides in April Bowl, as well as smaller avalanches off both aspects of Marmot, Martin Mine, Hatch Peak, and Microdot. See all recent observations here.