Hatcher Pass
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The Bottom Line
The avalanche hazard is LOW at all elevations today.
Expect small dry loose sluffs to be possible to human trigger in steep terrain and manageable in size.
Excellent riding conditions exist in many locations. Keep your fingers crossed for a couple inches of new snow late Saturday through Sunday.
Special AnnouncementsSave the dates! HPAC is hosting a screening of “The Mountain in My Mind” in at the Bear Tooth Theatre in Anchorage on 3/28 and a Meet The Forecasters chat at Bearpaw Brewing in Wasilla on 4/1. Details on the Events page.
| Sun, March 10th, 2024 |
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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. |
Hatcher Pass has not received any new snow since Monday 3/4. Several small (D1-D1.5) natural dry loose avalanches have been observed this week. No slab avalanches have been observed or reported since 2/24.
3.8.24 Numerous natural dry loose D1-D1.5 sluffs in the Lodge Run off Marmot and above the lodge SW aspect 3600-4000′
3.8.24 Small natural dry loose sluffs off Skyscraper SE aspect 3600′.
3.8.24 Small natural dry loose sluffs off Marmot SW aspect 3600′
A rather stale and stagnant pattern in weather with moderate temps and calm wind has contributed to another week of exceptional stability in the snowpack. Temperatures in the teens have assisted in preserving excellent snow quality. Numerous natural and human triggered sluffs have been observed primarily on southerly aspects (southeast to southwest- clockwise) on slopes 40º and steeper over the past few days.
The sole avalanche problem in the core forecast area continues to be dry loose avalanches (sluffs). Sluffs will be slow moving and manageable. Expect sluffs to entrain a larger volume of cohesion-less snow and to run further distances where new snow is sitting over existing firm and/or faceted snow surfaces. While it is unlikely that sluffs will be big enough to bury a person, they can be dangerous if you get carried through terrain traps like cliffs or into gullies that can accumulate debris. Expect fewer sluffs today due to increasing cloud cover.
