Avalanche forecast

Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 3,500' and MODERATE between 2500' and 3500' for STORM SLAB and PERSISTENT SLAB avalanches. Below that, the danger is LOW.

Dangerous and tricky avalanche conditions exist at upper elevations, and the likelihood of triggering a slide will increase as you climb in elevation into deeper snow or wind-drifted areas. Additionally, the likelihood of natural and human-triggered avalanches will increase as the day warms or if the sun comes out. Avoid lingering under steep slopes today as temperatures rise or the sun comes out. Choose your terrain carefully, where you find dense, damp consolidated new snow. Snowpack cracking or collapsing is a clue that you have found an unstable slope. 

Ski or ride steep slopes one at a time, and seek terrain free of terrain traps like gullies, cliffs, or exposed rocks that could increase the consequences of a slide. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

We will issue our final forecast of the season tomorrow, 04/19. We will continue to issue general information products on Mondays and Fridays or as conditions warrant. Thank you to everyone who donated, joined us for events, or submitted observations. 

Today, 4/18, 12-3:30 pm, join us at the Independence Mine parking lot to celebrate the end of our forecast season. Whether it is snowing or not, we will be grilling FREE hot dogs and sharing beverages, and we would love to see you there! 

DONATE - HPAC is a nonprofit avalanche center, meaning our fundraising doesn't come from the state or federal government. We rely on local businesses and community support to bring you the most accurate avalanche information for Hatcher Pass. Donate here to contribute to our Spring Fundraising Drive. Any amount is encouraged, thanks to a generous donor, all gifts will be matched up to $5k until May 1.

Survey- If you read the forecast, submitted an observation, saw our social media, or even if you just enjoyed the snow at the Pass this winter, please fill out this brief survey to help us better understand Hatcher Pass and how we can improve our messaging and information. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Nearly 1 foot of new snow has fallen since Wednesday afternoon. Snow showers will take a short break today, but a skier or rider could still easily trigger slides failing within the new snow. This problem will exist on any steep slope above about 2500', and you can expect the size and depth of new snow problems to increase as you climb in elevation. At upper elevations, where winds have drifted snow, you may find thicker slabs of new snow.

    You can manage this problem by seeking slopes less than about 30 degrees for skiing or riding. Today is a day to stay out of complex avalanche terrain, where a thick, dense slab of snow could take you for an unwanted ride or produce avalanches large enough to bury a person.

    Springtime can be a difficult time to manage avalanche problems, as conditions can change rapidly based on aspect, elevation, and time of day. Simply said: managing this problem isn’t easy. Many slopes will harbor good, potentially stable riding conditions; however, that can change rapidly where the wind has built deep drifts of soft snow or where you move into even slightly steeper terrain.

    Additionally, as the day warms and the storm snow rapidly settles, slopes will become unstable, and the likelihood of triggering a slide will increase quickly. An avalanche may begin as a point release of consolidated, damp snow, but entrain new snow as it moves downhill—more akin to a wet/dry loose slide.

     

     

    (4/17/2026) Skier-triggered slide at upper elevations within the new wind-drifted snow. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Recent snow has loaded buried weak layers, and you may be able to trigger persistent slab avalanches up to 1'-2.5' deep.

    You are most likely to encounter these pockets on northerly slopes in steep and extreme terrain above 35 degrees, where weak snow lingers below old, buried wind crusts. Skiers yesterday found weak snow buried below old crusts and intentionally triggered a small slide. It’s not out of the question that you could find this today. The snow below the old wind crusts is exceptionally weak, and additional weight accumulated over the last few days of incremental snowfall may be enough to increase your odds of triggering a slide. The shading above represents where you are most likely to find old wind crusts above facets, but be wary of any slope where you find this setup. It would not be impossible to find this structure on a solar aspect, where now-buried, brittle melt-freeze crusts overlay sugary snow below.

    (4/17/2026) Skiers yesterday intentionally triggered a small slide, failing on weak snow in the upper snowpack. This happened after triggering a small new snow avalanche. 

Avalanche Discussion

Conditions are tricky today; the mountains harbor a wide variety of problems—from weak snow buried 1-2.5' deep on the northern half of the compass, to a more widespread new snow problem. Instability may not be obvious today, and if you get out early in the day, conditions may feel more MODERATE, and skiing and riding conditions may lure you into steeper terrain. However, as the day warms, new snow continues to settle into a cohesive slab; the likelihood and size of an avalanche will increase, driving the danger up to CONSIDERABLE. These are the days that catch recreationists and professionals alike off guard—where seemingly fair stability pushes you into steeper, more consequential terrain. Springtime is often associated with big lines, long days, and stable conditions, but the bottom line is this is the most significant storm cycle Hatcher Pass has seen in almost 2 months. Snow doesn't like change, and today the snow is getting a lot of that: recent load, recent wind drifting, and rapid warming. Choose your terrain carefully today, and if you are riding in steep terrain, only expose one person at a time, and seek terrain free of terrain traps like gullies, cliffs, or exposed rocks. 

RECENT AVALANCHES: 

Yesterday, forecasts and skiers in the field overserved natural warming-induced loose snow slides on a variety of aspects late in the day. These slides failed within the new snow or at the new/old snow interface; avalanches began as small point releases, entraining damp snow as they moved downhill. Additionally, skiers in the IM bowl intentionally triggered a small slide on buried weak layers after triggering a small avalanche in wind-drifted snow. Check out the observation page for more information on these avalanches. 

Regions covered