Hatcher Pass

The avalanche danger is LOW for all aspects and elevations.

Colder temperatures, light to moderate winds, and a fresh dusting in the last 48 hours preserved snow surfaces from last week's Spring refresh snow. While you could find a small pocket of instability in steep and extreme terrain today, dry loose or wind slab avalanches will be small and confined to isolated terrain features. 

Use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry: carry appropriate gear, make a plan, and follow good travel protocols. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Are you a motorized user? Join us March 17th at Eagle River Polaris at 6PM for a Forecaster Chat/State of the Snowpack with HPAC avalanche forecasters. 

With a small amount of new snow (1-2" on the 11th) on top of last week's 4-6", Hatcher Pass has kept winter alive. Remember that snow surfaces are variable: Northerly aspects are holding colder, looser snow and southerly aspects range from 1-2" thick supportable to breakable sun crusts. Even during LOW danger days, we recommend using normal caution and safe travel protocols to minimize the consequences of triggering even a small avalanche. These protocols include traveling one at a time in steep terrain, spotting partners from safe locations, and carrying appropriate rescue gear so you can perform a rescue. While you are unlikely to find and trigger an avalanche today, you could find some small pockets of instability in isolated and extreme terrain: 

WIND SLABS:

On Sunday and Monday, the Pass saw several hours of moderate gusts up to the mid 20s out of the East South East. While snow surfaces at mid-upper elevations (3,500'+) are showed some signs of wind affect, we have seen minimal slab formation by these moderate winds that transported 4-6" of new snow. The only documented wind slabs have been small and shallow (D1). These are been most likely to fail on crusts or faceted grains (see observation below). You are most likely to find and trigger small slabs less than 6" thick at upper elevations in isolated, steep, and previously crossloaded or leeward terrain (W-NW-N-NE, clockwise). If you are traveling in steep terrain directly below ridgelines, be observant of stiff, hollow or "punchy" snow surfaces. 

LOOSE AVALANCHES:

With colder temperatures expected today, wet loose avalanches are unlikely. You may be able to find and trigger a small dry loose sluff, particularly in northerly aspects at upper elevations (4,500'+) in tight and steep terrain features on slopes generally steeper than 40°. 

RECENT AVALANCHES: 

During periods of calm and sun last week, we observed several small wet loose point releases. Hatcher Pass has seen several small and inconsequential dry loose sluffs in and around ski/split/snowmachine tracks in the last week. A party reported a small, shallow natural wind slab failing on a persistent weak layer (facets) on Tueseday 3/11  that occurred sometime between Sunday and Tuesday in Lost Couloir.