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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500' for LOOSE and PERSISTENT SLAB avalanches. The danger is LOW elsewhere. 

New snow falling today could increase the avalanche hazard. 

Natural loose snow avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Avoid lingering under steep slopes as new snow accumulates or if the sun peaks out this afternoon.

Weak snow below old wind crusts in the upper 1' of the snowpack is exceptionally weak, and the additional weight of today's snow may be enough to increase your odds of triggering a Persistent Slab avalanche. 

New snow avalanches could start small but entrain snow and become large and unmanageable as they move down the slope. As new snow accumulates today, dialing back slope angles and terrain complexity will keep you out of trouble. 

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

Saturday 4/18 12-3:30pm Join us at the Independence Mine parking lot to celebrate the end of our forecast season. We'll be grilling 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

  • Loose Wet

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

    Loose avalanches are the most likely hazard today.

    As new snow accumulates on firm and faceted surfaces, dry loose avalanches are possible. Greenhousing and breaks in the clouds this afternoon could lead to rapid warming and solar-induced sluffing and wet loose avalanches. It will be easy for riders to trigger small sluffs in steep terrain where even a small avalanche could entrain a large amount of snow as it travels down the slope. Watch your sluff and avoid steep slopes as new snow accumulates or the sun comes out this afternoon. 

    Avalanches could travel farther than you think, and slides that start in upper elevations could make it to mid or lower elevations when confined in gullies or terrain traps. Stay out from under steep terrain and avoid traveling in creeks and gullies. 

    The shading above reflects the most likely aspects to see solar-induced loose snow avalanches, but if we receive more than a couple of inches of new snow, dry loose avalanches will be possible on more northerly aspects as well.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    You may still find small pockets of instability at upper elevations where weak snow lingers below old wind crusts.

    You are most likely to encounter these pockets on northerly slopes in steep and extreme terrain above 35 degrees. The snow below the old wind crusts is exceptionally weak, and additional weight today 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.

    The weight of new snow today could stress weak layers in the snowpack, increasing your odds of triggering an avalanche.

    Skiers on 03/31 found this setup and triggered a slide on the southeast side of Marmot—fortunately, no one was caught, and the skier was able to ski off the slab. On Wednesday, we found this structure near Eldorado Bowl, with isolated collapses and poor stability tests. The takeaway from recent avalanches and poor stability tests is that we are not out of the woods yet for dry snow avalanches.

    The best way to manage this problem is to ski or ride slopes one at a time and be wary of slopes where you find thin, softer slabs of snow connecting to thicker drifts (this is where you could trigger larger slides similar to the slide on Marmot). You can further hedge your bets by digging down into the upper 1' of the snowpack, looking for weak snow below surficial wind drifts and crusts. 

    (4/8/2026) Photo: Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

RECENT AVALANCHES:

Strong solar effect on Friday afternoon triggered a small natural cycle of wet loose avalanches on upper elevation west-facing slopes. Some isolated sluffing was observed on northerly and easterly aspects as well. Previous to this, Hatcher Pass had a small natural avalanche cycle following last week's modest snowfall observed on Wednesday and Thursday. Natural slab avalanches were observed on several northerly aspects at upper elevations, as were sluffs on solar aspects. There appeared to be at least one small skier-triggered sluff on the SE side of Eldorado/Skyscraper. 

Regions covered