Hatcher Pass

The avalanche danger is LOW at all elevations and on all aspects.

The continuation of a two week long period of stable high pressure has improved stability and riding conditions. 

Low danger does not mean no danger. Use normal caution while backcountry recreating. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Join HPAC for the next State of the Snowpack at Blue & Gold in Wasilla on February 26th at 7pm. 

Consistent high pressure has improved riding conditions and Hatcher Pass shows it. Cold and clear nights have faceted the upper snowpack dramatically. Snow surfaces--even previously wind hammered ones--have softened and loosened. A large amount of terrain has been accessed in the last two weeks since we had significant precipitation 1/22-1/27. Frequent Hatcher Pass recreators may be looking for the wind with suspicion, lingering fear for when it might return with a vengeance, or even a very small amount of nostalgia (no, probably not nostalgia). Skiers, riders and snowmachiners have taken major advantage--it appears to be a form of "open season" out there and we have not seen any human triggered avalanches since the week after the storm (see below). 

Deep Persistent Slabs:

With lots of feedback in the form of snowmachiners, skiers and splitboarders poking into more and more terrain, we have built additional confidence in the low likelihood high consequence deep slab problem. Paired with ECTX (no results) in weeks of snow pits, loosening of the upper snowpack, and bridging in the midpack, it is unlikely for someone to find this problem. With the increase in stability, remember that our structure remains upside down (see photo below). Even subtle changes in weather could re-awaken this problem so pay attention and do your homework should this high pressure paradigm shift and we have added load to the snowpack via significant wind or precipitation. 

Loose Avalanches:

In northerly terrain that is steep and extreme (40°+), you may be able to initiate a small avalanche in unconsolidated, faceted snow. On southerly aspects, a sluff could be initiated by warming at the base of rocks. Both of these are unlikely to be large in size but could sweep you off your feet if you are not paying attention. 

Normal Caution: Continue to use good travel practices, even with low danger. When any uncertainty exists, practice intentional decision-making and focus on the basics of safe travel protocol: In avalanche terrain, only expose one person to steep slopes at a time, choose safe zones out of the reach of avalanches for grouping up and still make sure everyone in your group has a beacon, shovel, and probe, and are prepared and practiced for companion rescue.

RECENT AVALANCHES:

A few recent wet loose sluff avalanches were observed on solar aspects near Friendship Pass in the Gold Cord Valley. These likely occurred earlier this week when daytime temperatures reached at or above freezing (32*F). 

Last Friday (2/7), forecasters observed a remote snowmachine triggered persistent slab avalanche in the Bald Mountain basin on the Willow side of the pass. We do not have a good sense of when this avalanche was triggered, but it was likely in the first week of the high pressure phase right after the 1/22-1/27 storm.