Avalanche forecast

Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for WIND SLAB avalanches at mid and upper elevations. The danger is LOW elsewhere. 

You could trigger small avalanches on wind-affected slopes, most likely near ridgelines, to the sides of steep gullies, or along convex rolls. These slides won't be huge, but could have serious consequences in the right terrain, where you could be dragged through rocks, over cliffs, or potentially buried in depressions. Watch for dunes of wind-drifted snow, freshly formed cornices, or textured wind-stiffened snow surfaces. Snowpack cracking or collapsing is bullseye information that you have found an unstable wind-loaded slope. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Thanks to everyone who came to our last State of the Snowpack at Palmer Brewing. Please take a few moments to fill out our State of the Snowpack survey from the '25/'26 season here. Feel free to check out the mid-Feb to mid-March recap presentation. 

Don't forget to add HPAC on your Pick Click Give PFD application :) 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

     Watch out for blowing snow, smooth drifts, and shooting cracks, as these are indications that you are close to this problem. 

    Last week, Hatcher Pass picked up an inch or two of new, light-density snow.  New slabs will be built over a variety of surfaces; the upper snowpack is a mess of crusts and faceted snow. Expect slabs to be stiff, brittle, and shallow for the most part, although it's possible that a slide could break deeper and wider than you expect.

    The size, sensitivity, and likelihood of triggering an avalanche increase with elevation. This problem most likely exists near ridgelines, on convex rolls, and along the sides of steep gullies. 

    Pole probing, hand pits, and using small test slopes to assess reactivity as you travel are good tests for this problem. The snowpack is thin for March, and even a small avalanche could result in a rocky ride. If you are traveling in upper elevations, approach loaded slopes with caution - only expose one person at a time and select terrain with clean and open run outs. 

    Soft, wind-protected turns can be found on lower-angle sheltered slopes in mid- and low-elevation terrain. If you can hide from the wind on more southerly aspects, you might even feel the warmth of the sun. 

    (3/21/2026) Reactive wind slab result on test slope Photo: AAS Lvl 1 - Kerst/Nixon/Bruno

Avalanche Discussion

Today's primary avalanche concern is WIND SLAB avalanches. If you're getting into the mountains, here are a few other things to consider: 

  • DRY LOOSE: It's still possible to trigger small, shallow dry loose sluffs on steep slopes at mid and upper elevations. You'll find these in areas with small amounts of recent snowfall over loose, faceted snow in isolated areas. In steep terrain, particularly on northerly aspects, you could sluff loose snow over firm surfaces below. These will not be large, but could knock you off your feet and send you somewhere you do not want to go. Look out for areas in steep terrain where this structure exists and manage your fall line accordingly. 
  • WET LOOSE: As we approach the end of March, it is time to start thinking about springtime avalanche problems. As winds ease this week and the strong spring sun warms slopes, you may find a wetted snow surface on steep slopes facing the sun. Watch for a wet snow surface deeper than just a few inches—if you are sinking into wet snow above your ankles, it is time to seek cooler slopes. This problem is most likely going to exist in "solar ovens", where exposed rocks and cliffs amplify the warming of the spring sun. 
  • PERSISTENT SLABS: We are tracking several interfaces in the snowpack - small, weak, sugary grains between stiff, firm slabs in the upper snowpack, and the continued large and loose structure near the ground. We have not seen any activity on these layers since 1/31. However, it would not be outside the realm of possibility for a recently formed wind slab to "step down" to a weaker layer in the snowpack in the right spot. We will continue to monitor our poor structure as Spring develops, as these dormant layers could come into play with a fresh load, rapid warming, or extended periods above freezing. 

Finally, as mentioned earlier, we are still experiencing a low-snow year. Be on the lookout for shallowly buried hazards like rocks, shrubs, or mining debris. 

RECENT AVALANCHES: 

Yesterday, forecasters in the field observed small natural wind slab avalanches in steep terrain near Arkose, Mint Knob,  and Marmot. We have also received similar reports of natural and skier triggered slides near Eldorado Bowl, and Mirco Dot. 

Regions covered