Hatcher Pass
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The Bottom Line
With another weekend of minimal new snow, light winds and warmer temperatures, the hazard rating is LOW at all elevations and aspects.
Use aspect to your advantage for seeking quality snow to avoid areas that have been sun and wind affected.
There is a slight chance for snow going into the weekend but this will not change the danger rating.
Special AnnouncementsPermanent Fund Dividend applications are available from January 1 to March 31. If you have already applied, Alaskans may choose to add or adjust their pledges online through August 31. For the first time, HPAC is one of the charitable organizations you can support! Thank you for your contribution toward avalanche safety.
| Fri, March 15th, 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. |
We have not seen any skier triggered avalanches or reported naturals since Friday March 8th. Notably, last week’s avalanches were all small (D1) dry loose sluffs.
Light gusting to moderate winds occurred on March 12 and 13 and produced some wind effect (thin wind skins, soft and breakable wind crusts) but lacked intensity and duration to build significant wind slabs. Only in isolated terrain we are finding cohesive enough small, stubborn wind slabs. On Wednesday 3/13, a small D1 wind slab was triggered just below ridgeline on a northerly aspect at 4,000’ on peak 4,068. The slab was approximately 20ft wide but didn’t move any distance.
A small intentional ski cut wind slab N. 4,068′ that ran on smooth, faceted old wind slab. Photo: Kai Mcgrath
Wind effect observed in Hatcher Pass proper near April Bowl. W 4200′
In most locations the snowpack remains soft and stable. New snow accumulations have been meager with a trace to 1 inch since last weekend. Abundant sun has pierced through the overcast skies in the valley for the last couple days, making for great visibility in the alpine.
Triggering a small wind slab avalanche is unlikely but not impossible today. A brief increase in southeast winds over the last 36 hours in the upper elevation has transported snow onto northwest through northeast aspects. Overall the effect has been minimal but you may find a thin (mostly 1-2 inch thick) wind skin on the surface in isolated locations. These thin slabs are stubborn, breakable, and still retain soft dry snow beneath. The best places to find these weak slabs are below ridgelines, passes, and cross-loaded terrain features above 3500 feet in elevation.
With longer duration and a more intense sun angle we are finding a melt/freeze crust on southern aspects. This crust is most apparent during the cold morning hours before the direct sun and heat of the afternoon melt it away. Expect a thin icy glaze on slopes that get prolonged direct sun and for the crust to be most pronounced in the low elevations where temperatures are above freezing during the day.
3.13 Scoured and loaded at Hatcher Pass proper 4000”
Thanks to board member Keegan Krantz and Ryan, our Hatch Peak station is up and running again. The wind data from Hatch as compared to Marmot weather station can usually show a subtle increase in overall wind intensity.
Hatch weather station showing a short duration increase in winds on March 13
NWS AVG Forecast here.
NWS point forecast here.
Marmot Weather Station here.
Independence Mine Snotel here.
Frostbite Bottom Snotel here.
State Parks Snow Report and Motorized Access information here.
XC trail grooming report for Mat-Su, Anchorage, and Kenai here.
