Haines Pass

Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

No recent avalanches have been reported, but field observations have been extremely limited.

If you visit the area please consider submitting your observations to the MIN.

Steeper north and east-facing terrain is very wind-affected with sastrugi, crusts, or hard old wind slabs on the surface. In lower angle, wind-sheltered southwest through east facing terrain you may find up to 20cm of soft facetted snow.

Cornices are large and looming and should be given a wide berth if traveling on ridgetops. The midpack is generally well settled with no significant layers of concern.

The base of the snowpack is made up of 20 to 30 cm of weak facets and depth hoar, which currently seem well bridged by overlying layers. Overall snowpack depths in sheltered areas are 200 to 300 cm. Click on the photo below for more details.

Friday Night

Mostly clear. Northeast ridgetop wind 30 km/h. Alpine (1000 m) temperature around -22 °C

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. Northeast ridgetop wind 30 km/h. Alpine (1000 m) temperature around -20 °C

Sunday

Sunny. Northeast ridgetop wind 40 km/h. Alpine (1000 m) temperature around -21 °C

Monday

Sunny. Variable ridgetop wind 10 km/h. Alpine (1000 m) temperature around -12 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.