Hatcher Pass
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The Bottom Line
BOTTOM LINE
The avalanche danger is MODERATE today for Wind Slabs and Dry Loose at upper elevation, on leeward aspects, on west to northeast aspects, on slopes above 35°. New wind slabs 4-8” thick will be possible to trigger at upper elevation on leeward aspects. Dry loose sluffs will be small but possible to trigger in steep terrain.
Low avalanche hazard at mid and low elevation. Human triggered avalanches will be unlikely. Low hazard does not mean NO hazard.
Great snow conditions can be found on the shadier aspects and challenging crust skiing/riding exist on the sunny aspects. New snow has buried and concealed firm sun crusts on southerly aspects. Visibility may be the challenging today.
Special AnnouncementsCheck out Drew Hardesty’s new UAC podcast with interview of my longtime mentor, Ian McCammon, most known on his work about avalanche risk factors. It’s worth it!
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| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
NEW! Numerous natural wind slab avalanches were reported early morning 3/9. These most likely occurred during the height of the wind late night 3/8. Wind slabs are estimated to be mostly small, D1-D1.5, on leeward aspects. Information is still being gathering on these avalanches.
Winds gusting SE 18-43 mph for the past 16 hours at 4500’ will contribute to a wind slab problem today. Small avalanches in specific areas will be possible to human trigger at upper elevations. Natural avalanches are unlikely. 3-4” of new snow from 3/7 combined with SE winds have formed 4-8” thick wind slabs on leeward aspects, West to Northeast, at upper elevation. New wind slabs are sitting on old faceted surfaces.
Pole tests will easily reveal stiffer snow sitting over weaker snow and will be a good indicator for the presence of wind slabs and slab thickness.
We have limited data at this time due to poor visibility.
Dry loose avalanches will be small and possible to human trigger on slopes 40° and steeper on Northerly aspects at upper elevations. Dry loose sluffs are a manageable problem. Even a small avalanche hazard can be compounded if you are caught and carried into terrain traps, such as gullys, ravines, and depressions.
Learn more about Dry Sluffs and Wind Slabs in the Avalanche Problem toolbox HERE.
https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche-problem-toolbox
Wet-Loose: If the sun pops out today, expect small wet-loose activity on southerly aspects, SE to SW at all elevations. South aspect structure HERE shows the stout 3-4″ thick melt freeze crust holding the entire snowpack together.
Cornices: Cornices are getting large and are unpredictable in nature. Give yourself a wide berth when travelling in and around cornices. Cornice fall can be the culprit in triggering other avalanche problems.
This week’s weather at Independence Mine 3550′:
Temps averaged 23ºF, with a low of 13ºF and a high of 29ºF.
IM recorded 1” of new snow and .13″ water (SWE) this week. Ground truth reports 3-4” of new snow at upper elevations.
Overnight at 3550′:
Temps averaged 26°F.
No new snow.
This week’s weather at Marmot Weather Station 4500′:
Temps averaged 18ºF, with a low of 12ºF and a high of 25ºF.
Winds averaged SE 5 mph, max 16 mph . Gusts averaged SE 9 mph, max gust ESE/SE 28 mph.
Overnight at 4500′:
Temps averaged 21ºF overnight, with a Low of 19ºF.
Winds averaged ESE 13 mph overnight. Max gust ESE 43 mph.
NWS Rec Forecast HERE
NWS point forecast HERE
State Parks Snow Report and Motorized Access information HERE
TREND –
A weak low pressure system will continue to bring clouds and a trace of precipitation to HP this weekend with a chance of more snow early next week. If winds continue to blow, as predicted today, avalanche danger will remain the same or rise at upper elevation leeward aspects. Warm weather early next week will likely contribute to a re-activation of the wet-loose avalanche cycle.
