Bollettino valanghe

Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
Senza grado
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 9 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Wind slab avalanches are possible at upper elevations where the wind has built thick drifts or stiffened the snow surface; the danger is MODERATE. Your odds of triggering a slide will increase as you climb in elevation, and terrain features like gullies, couloirs, and alpine bowls have the highest likelihood of harboring a wind slab. Even a small slide could knock you off your feet and carry you where you don't want to go. Keep in mind that emergency services are already stretched thin due to ongoing wind-related incidents across the Mat-Su Valley.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We are on the Avy App! This will be your one-stop shop for the forecast, weather, and observations this season. Head over to the app store on your iPhone or Android. Feel free to watch this video for a tutorial. 

HPAC could not exist without the support of our community. Thank you! Consider a donation this holiday season.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday, December 10th, 6-8 pm @ Backcountry Bike and Ski - Join us for our first State of the Snowpack chat.  Meet the forecasters, learn about the new Avy App, and chat about conditions, submitting observations, and what the crystal ball holds for the season ahead.

Saturday, December 13th, 12-3 pm @ Hatcher Pass - HPAC and partners will be hosting a FREE rescue day at the Fishhook Lot from 12-3 pm. All skill levels and styles of recreating are welcome. We will have snowmachine-specific rescue tips with AMDS and Saferiders, as well as novice, intermediate, and advanced rescue clinics with Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, Skeetawk Pro Patrol, Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, and HPAC forecasters. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    You are most likely to trigger a wind slab avalanche 1-2' thick at upper elevations where strong winds have built thick drifts and stiffened the snow surface in terrain features like gullies, alpine bowls, and couloirs. It isn't out of the realm of possibilities for a wind slab to step down and fail on weak sugary snow near the ground in isolated places across the forecast area. 

    Keep an eye out for wind-stiffened snow surfaces or thick drifts—wind slabs often sound hollow or drum-like and will offer the most enticing skiing and riding conditions. Take a moment before committing to steep alpine terrain to look for signs of wind loading, such as freshly formed cornices or a scalloped/smoothed snow surface. If you can safely enter the terrain, use a probe or pole to push through the snow, looking for a stiff over soft recipe. If you experience cracking or collapsing in wind-affected terrain, you have found the problem.

    (12/6/2025)

    Strong winds over the last 24-36 hours have scoured many slopes, while cross-loading and building drifts on others. 

    Photo: Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

It has been a slow start to the winter season, and over the last week, Hatcher Pass received 5" of snow—about 0.6" of snow water equivalent—above 3,500', bringing average snow depth at those elevations to just over one foot. Over the last month and a half, several wind events have also occurred, and these have been the primary drivers of instability. Today’s avalanche problem follows the same pattern. Looking back at this season's notable wind events:

  • A snowboarder triggered a small avalanche on November 1st after strong winds on October 30th (Observation).
  • A skier triggered a large avalanche in April Bowl on November 10, following moderate to strong winds on November 9th (Observation).
  • Forecasters observed several small natural avalanches near Marmot Peak after strong winds on November 19–20th (Observation).

These are exactly the types of avalanches a skier or rider could trigger today. The biggest difference is that with the addition of several small snowstorms, there is an increased risk of being buried by a slide. Remember that early-season conditions are still present, and even a small slide in extreme terrain could result in injury from being dragged through rocks or over cliffs. 

RECENT AVALANCHES:

On Sunday, 11/29, forecasters observed some old natural activity on the back side of Skyscraper Ridge. Within the forecast area, no human-triggered avalanches have been observed in almost a month. See all recent observations here. There have been several other small D1 avalanches over the last week, either observed or triggered outside of the forecast area. We have not had any reported human-triggered avalanches since 11/10. 

Regioni coperte