Hatcher Pass

~On 1/17 while booting-up in the Independence Lot we witnessed a wind slab avalanche above Martin Mine which sympathetically released an adjacent slab avalanche.

~A small wind slab avalanche broke in our vicinity as we evaluated a previous avalanche near the lower flank of Eldorado Bowl.

~We intentionally triggered a wind slab avalanche on a small test slope in a steep drainage below Eldorado Bowl while skinning back to the parking lot.

~Numerous small to large loose dry sluffs have been observed in steep terrain since the new snow on 1/13-14.

Natural Wind Slab Avalanche Below Eldorado Bowl on SW aspect at 3200ft 1/17/24

Human Triggered Wind Slab Avalanche in Creek Drainage below Martin Mine West aspect 3200 ft 1/17/24

Observed 2 Natural Wind Slab Avalanches Near Martin Mine South Aspect 4000 ft 1/17/24

4 to 10 inch thick human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible on east through west aspects above 3500 feet on slopes 35° and steeper. Following the recent storm on 1/13-14, we received up to 10 inches of new snow with calm winds. Snow surfaces were soft and the riding was excellent. Now with all of that low density snow available for transport, combined with moderate to high winds on 1/17-18 from the east and northeast, wind slabs will continue to form on leeward aspects. During field observations yesterday, we noticed active snow transport with plumes of snow cascading off peaks and ridgelines which actively built wind slabs throughout the day on slopes that face east through west. Long propagating shooting cracks and audible whumphs from slabs collapsing underfoot were noticed on several occasions during our time in the field.

Conservative terrain selection is recommended. Expect slabs on east to west aspects, and cross-loaded gullies, to be variable in hardness with the potential to crack, collapse, and avalanche as you step on them. Slabs will be reactive to the additional weight of wind blown snow or a person, with soft or weak sugary snow beneath. Smooth or rounded snow features just below ridgelines, on convex roll-overs, and surrounding concave drainages are places you could find sensitive slabs. Although the winds may be stronger in the Matanuska Valley, slopes in the lower elevation have not seen much for snow transport or concerning wind slab formation. As the winds continue this morning there will be some uncertainty as to how thick and sensitive these slabs will be this afternoon. Utilize constant snowpack evaluation, traveling on more northern aspects, surfaces scoured by the wind, or on low elevation and low angle slopes can increase your safety margin. 

Below Eldorado Bowl on SW aspect at 3200 ft 1/17/24

Terrain steeper than 40° has been the canvas for numerous loose dry avalanches since we received up to 10 inches of new snow on 1/13-14. These avalanches have occurred both naturally and with humans as the trigger. You can find evidence of recent loose dry avalanches on all aspects of the mid and upper elevations. Most of them are not capable of burying a human, but they could step into wind slabs which could make for a larger D2 size avalanche problem. Weak sugary snow grains below the recent snow or surrounding previously firm surfaces has been the catalyst for some of these avalanches. Loose dry avalanches are somewhat slow to gain momentum and can be avoided by sticking to lower angled slopes.

Loose Dry Avalanches in Steep Terrain on Idaho Peak SW Aspect 4000 ft 1/17/24