Current SnowPit Data for
Hatcher's Pass - Sponsored by Alaska Mining and Diving Supply
Reported by Dan Dryden 2/4/08
Multiple natural avalanches have been recnetly
spotted on all aspects in Hatcher's Pass! Avalanche danger is
considerable to high.
Due to widespread resent natural avalanches, shooting
cracks and collapsing weak layers, I would advise exercising
extreme caution in the backcountry. Practice safe travel techniques,
stay in open meadows or on ridges and high points.
I counted over 10 resent avalanches. These avalanches
were on all aspects. (North, South, East and West.) Skiing up
the west ridge of Microdot at about 3500 feet I encountered
shooting cracks and whomping of a collapsing weak layer. Digging
a pit revealed several old buried wind slabs. The oldest wind
slab was at 50 cm and all the snow under it was depth hoar.
A shovel compression test failed at 20 cm deep
with a CT5 (5 taps) and a Q2 for sheer. The second layer failed
60 cm down on the wind slab depth hoar interface with a CT8
and also a Q2.
Reported by Dan Dryden 1/28/08
Watched a natural avalanche occur on the south
face of Idaho Peak. Also spotted multiple recent natural avalanches
on a variety of aspects throughout the pass.
I was not able to hike up to the avalanche, though
I could see the powder cloud and hear it quite clearly.
In the last 2 weeks there has been about 16 inches
of new light density snow fall on top of a pencil hardness wind
slab. The last 10 to 14 inches of snow fell with winds of 10
to 30 mph. Where the wind slabs do not exist there are isolated
pockets of buried hoar frost. The avalanche I saw was on a slope
with signs of wind loading and cross loading. So my guess it
that the avalanche occured on the new snow wind slab interface.
It is a good time to stay to lower angle slopes.
