| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Persistent Slabs
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 Dry Loose
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Today’s primary avalanche concern is Persistent Slab. It will be possible to human trigger small to large persistent slab avalanches on slopes 35º and steeper, where stiff snow overlies old, weak, sugary snow. This problem will be found predominately near upper elevation ridgelines, on SW to NE aspects, but also exists in a more patchy [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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It will be possible to human trigger persistent slab avalanches at all elevations, on SW-NE aspects. Natural avalanches are unlikely. These avalanches will be small to large in size. To identify this problem look for stiff hard snow, sitting on top of weak sugary facets. [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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 Wind Slabs
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It will be possible to human trigger 12 to 18″ thick persistent slabs at all elevations, on SW to NE aspects today. It will be possible to human trigger 2 to 6″ thick wind slabs at mid and upper elevation, on W to N aspects today. Naturals are unlikely. Winds events on 12/5-6 and 12/9 [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent slabs will be possible to human trigger today. Small thin wind slabs will be possible to human trigger with an increase in wind this afternoon. Small to large, human triggered persistent slabs are possible at all elevations on SW-N aspects on slopes greater than 30°; natural avalanches are unlikely. These avalanches will be found [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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HEADS UP! A major wind event has rapidly increased the avalanche hazard overnight. This storm has brought more wind than new snow. Human triggered wind slab avalanches will be likely, and natural avalanches will be possible. These avalanches will be large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. Wind slabs will be prevalent on [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Small Dry Loose avalanches will be possible to human trigger at mid and upper elevations in specific terrain, 40° and steeper. Getting caught in a fast moving small sluff in steep terrain will have large consequences if you then encounter rocks or other hazards. The snowpack is shallow, coverage is thin, and rocks and other [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Conditions have changed! After a month of relatively stable avalanche conditions, we are going to focus on conservative travel protocols and good backcountry habits to appropriately mitigate today’s avalanche hazard. Small, human triggered Wind Slabs are possible at Upper elevations on SW thru NW aspects. Natural avalanches are unlikely. These wind slabs will be isolated [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Not much has changed, we remain in an impressively long holding pattern. Today’s avalanche problem will be, you guessed it, Loose Dry. Cold weather has preserved loose snow near the surface which will be possible to human trigger at mid and upper elevations in specific terrain, 40º and steeper. While these avalanches will be small [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Human triggered Dry Loose avalanches will be possible today at mid and upper elevations on all aspects. These avalanches will be found in terrain that’s 40° or steeper. Natural avalanches are unlikely. These avalanches will be small in size but can catch, carry and sweep you into other hazards, if not managed properly. Don’t be [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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LOOSE DRY avalanches will be possible to human trigger today at mid and upper elevations on all aspects, on slopes steeper than 40º. Sluff management will be critical to avoid being swept over rocks or into terrain traps. Keep those scarfs and ear muffs handy as cold clear weather will continue to persist throughout the [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Loose Dry is today’s avalanche problem. Human triggered Loose Dry avalanches are possible at all elevations in terrain that’s 40° or steeper. While these avalanche’s have decreased in size over the last week, they have increased in speed. Natural avalanches are unlikely. If you do get caught in an avalanche, rocks, cliffs and other shallowly [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche hazard is MODERATE for LOOSE DRY AVALANCHES at all elevations, on all aspects. It will be likely to human trigger many, small, dry loose avalanches on slopes 40° and steeper. Natural avalanches are unlikely. Coverage is still shallow and hazards such as rocks loom close to the surface. Taking a ride in an [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Loose Dry is today’s avalanche problem. 3 inches of snow fell last night and additional 5-6” is expected by this evening, increasing the avalanche danger. Human triggered Dry Loose avalanches are possible at all elevations in terrain that’s 40° or steeper. These avalanches will be able to entrain old and new snow, increasing their size. [Read More] | ||
 Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche hazard is moderate for Glide Avalanches on all aspects at mid to upper elevation. Glide avalanches are not a human triggered hazard, but an unpredictable, naturally occurring event. Glide avalanches are a low frequency/high consequence hazard. They are difficult to predict and can release at any time. Avoidance is the best way to [Read More] | ||
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unHappy Halloween! HEADS UP for a big change for the worse! This weekend’s weather is not cooperating entirely for our winter recreation. The beautiful powder and generally stable avalanche conditions we have been enjoying are gone. Strong ESE winds yesterday and today, gusting up to 48mph, have scoured upper elevation ridgelines and redistributed snow resulting [Read More] | ||
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Welcome to the 2021/2022 Season! Regular avalanche center operations will begin mid-November. Until then check back here for periodic updates, especially surrounding storm cycles. It’s looking like winter up high in the mountains. While it may seem early, if there is snow in the mountains, avalanches are possible. October is notorious for surprising people with [Read More] | ||
 Wet Slab
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 Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger will be MODERATE in the morning for PERSISTENT SLAB and LOW rising to CONSIDERABLE in the afternoon for WET SLAB and WET LOOSE. In case you missed it, the Easter storm came and went, with many avalanches crossing and closing the road. Sub zero temperatures are also a thing of the past. Spring [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE hazard exists for PERSISTENT SLAB, WIND SLAB, and WET-LOOSE avalanches today. It will be possible to human trigger avalanches, naturals are unlikely. Spring has sprung, finally, and temperatures have significantly increased since Monday and will continue to steadily increase throughout the week. Observations have been focused at low and mid elevation due to the [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is LOW today on all aspects, at all elevations. Low danger does not mean no danger. Small wind slabs will be possible to human trigger in isolated terrain, on SE to S to W aspects, at upper elevation. This problem will be quick to heal. Below freezing and single digit temperatures this [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Persistent slabs will be possible to human trigger today on all aspects, at all elevations today. Naturals will be unlikely. Sunday’s historic Easter Avalanche Cycle has left its mark on Hatcher Pass with many avalanches crossing the road. DOT is waiting for the snowpack to stabilize to start clearing the road. HP received 1-2″ of [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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Tuesday, April 6: The Avalanche Warning has EXPIRED. The next update will be Thursday morning at 7am. DOT says the road will be closed for awhile. An AVALANCHE WARNING has been extended and is in effect until Tuesday, April 6 at 7am. The Avalanche danger will be HIGH today. Human triggered avalanches are VERY LIKELY [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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Update 6:00 pm Sunday, April 4th, 2021 Avalanche Danger is HIGH at Hatcher Pass. HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE VERY LIKELY NATURALS ARE LIKELY VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN NOT RECOMMENDED HP has received 11″ of snow and almost 2″ inches of water along with SSW winds gusting 20-41 for 21 hours. Every RED [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today and could RISE to HIGH this evening through Sunday as a huge storm is expected to deposit 18″ to 28″ inches of snow thru Sunday evening . It will be LIKELY to HUMAN TRIGGER AVALANCHES today on all aspects, at all elevations. Several human triggered avalanches were reported on [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Today’s Avalanche Problems will be Persistent Slab and Dry Loose. Large human triggered Persistent Slabs will be likely on East thru West aspects at all elevations. Small to Large Dry Loose avalanches will be possible on all aspects and all elevations on slopes 40° and steeper. Remote triggering avalanches will be possible today. Careful snowpack [Read More] | ||
 Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is Considerable today for Storm slabs, Persistent Slabs, and Dry Loose. It will be likely to trigger avalanches today at all aspects and all elevations. Natural avalanches will be possible. 6″ of snow has fallen so far and up to 16″ are expected today through Tuesday with temperatures increasing throughout the storm. [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The tides have turned and the persistent slab is active again after receiving approximately 10″ of new snow and 1″ SWE on Thursday. Small to large Persistent slabs will be likely to human trigger today and naturals will be possible on all aspects, although more likely on East to South to West aspects, at all [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Storm Slabs
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Hatcher Pass received 4-5 inches of new snow overnight and are expecting an additional 5-7 inches of snow with moderate to strong winds today. Today’s Avalanche Problems will be Dry Loose, with the potential for Storm Slabs, Persistent slabs and Wind slabs forming throughout the day. Small Dry loose avalanches will be possible on all [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche hazard is MODERATE today for PERSISTENT SLABS. Persistent slabs will be possible to human trigger today on E to W aspects, mostly likely on SE,S, SW aspects, at all elevations. Small avalanches in specific areas or large avalanches in isolated areas are possible today. Head’s up! Many avalanches are being triggered by the [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problems will be Persistent slab and Dry Loose. It will be possible for humans to trigger small to large Persistent Slabs at all elevations on East thru West aspects on slopes steeper than 35° degrees. Small Dry Loose avalanches will be possible at all elevations and all aspects. Natural avalanches are unlikely. On [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche hazard is MODERATE today for Persistent Slab and Dry Loose. Persistent slabs up to D2 is size will be possible to human trigger on East through West aspects at all elevations. Small to large Dry loose sluffs will be possible to human trigger at all elevations and all aspects on slopes steeper than [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problem will be Persistent Slab and Dry Loose. It will be possible for humans to trigger and remotely trigger Persistent Slabs at mid and upper elevations on West thru North aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Small Dry Loose avalanches will be possible at all elevations and all aspects on steep slopes. [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Small sensitive wind slabs up to 7″ thick will be possible to human trigger at upper elevation on W to N aspects today. Dry loose sluffs will be possible to human trigger in terrain steeper than 40º at all elevations and all aspects. Persistent slabs will be possible to trigger today at all elevations, in [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Persistent Slabs
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Today’s avalanche problems are Dry Loose and Persistent slab. It will be possible for humans to trigger small Dry Loose at all elevations on all aspects. Small to large persistent slabs 1-3’ thick will be possible at all elevations on East thru West aspects. Natural avalanches are unlikely. Small avalanches can still be dangerous, especially [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Today’s avalanche problems are Storm Slab, Persistent Slab and Dry Loose. Storm slabs 6-8″ thick and Persistent slabs 1-3 feet deep will be possible to trigger at all elevations and all aspects. Small to large dry loose will be possible to trigger at upper elevation on all aspects. We received approximately 6” of snow overnight [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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Hatcher Pass has received approximately 7” of new snow this week and an additional 2″ last night. Today’s avalanche problems are Storm Slabs, Winds Slabs and Dry Loose. It will be possible for humans to trigger small storm slabs 7” thick at all elevations on all aspects. Small human triggered Wind Slabs, 3-5” thick will [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger is LOW today at all elevations and on all aspects today. It is unlikely a person will trigger an avalanche. It will be possible to trigger small, slow moving, dry loose sluffs in isolated locations in terrain 40° and steeper. We encourage using safe travel protocol no matter the danger. 6-7″ of [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problems will be Wind slab and Dry loose. It will be possible to human trigger small Wind Slabs in specific terrain, at upper elevations, on leeward aspects and cross loaded features, on West through North aspects. Small Dry loose avalanches will be possible to human trigger at all elevations, and on all aspects, [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche hazard for today is MODERATE for Dry Loose avalanches (sluffs) on steep slopes 40° and steeper, on all aspects, at all elevations. New low density snow from last week and this week have improved conditions, in addition to increasing the potential to trigger sluffs. Route choice and sluff management will be integral to [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Storm Slabs
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Today’s avalanche problems are Wind Slab, Storm Slab and Dry Loose. It will be possible to human trigger small Wind Slabs in specific terrain, at upper elevations, on leeward aspects and cross loaded features, West through Northwest. Small, human triggered storm slabs will be possible at mid and upper elevations on all aspects. Small, Dry [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Dry loose avalanches (sluffs) are today’s avalanche problem. It will be possible to trigger small, slow moving sluffs on all aspects, at all elevations, on slopes 35-40° steep. It will be likely to trigger medium sized sluffs on slopes 45° and steeper. These will run longer distances and in some cases entrain older snow, increasing the [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problem will be dry loose avalanches. Human triggered avalanches are possible at mid and upper elevations on all aspects. These avalanches will be small in size. Natural avalanches are unlikely. Riding quality has improved and low density snow is plentiful. That being said coverage is still thin especially near ridge tops. While coverage [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Small, slow moving, and low volume, dry loose avalanches will be possible to trigger at all elevations, on all aspects, and only on slopes 40° and steeper. Thin coverage, the recent new coat of white paint on the mountains is all show! Coverage is lacking, rocks linger just below the surface. The upper elevation steeps [Read More] | ||
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problem will be dry loose, human triggered avalanches are possible at all elevations and on all aspects. These avalanches will be small in size. Natural avalanches are unlikely. Rocks and other hazards are sitting just below the surface, even a small avalanche could have high consequences. Riding conditions have improved with last weeks [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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Today’s avalanche problems are wind slab and dry loose. Small, soft wind slabs will be possible to trigger at upper elevations on leeward aspects. Moderate gusting winds this morning are forecasted through the day which will increase this hazard toward the afternoon. Small dry loose avalanches (sluffs) will be possible to trigger on all aspects [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Today’s avalanche problems will be wind slab, persistent slab and dry loose, human triggered avalanches are unlikely. Triggering an avalanche in isolated or extreme terrain is still possible. New snow this week has covered rocks and other hazards sitting just below the surface, even a small avalanche could have high consequences. Riding conditions have improved [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche hazard is LOW today for persistent slabs on all aspects, at all elevations. Human triggered and natural persistent slab avalanches are unlikely today, however, triggering a persistent slab in isolated or extreme terrain is not impossible. Wind speeds are forecasted to increase today. With very little snow available for transport, these winds should [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Today’s avalanche problem will be persistent slab, avalanches are unlikely at all elevations and all aspects. Triggering an avalanche in isolated or extreme terrain is still possible. Rocks and other hazards are sitting just below the surface, even a small avalanche could have high consequences. In isolated wind protected areas some soft riding conditions can [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind slabs will be generally small in size and possible to human trigger at the upper elevations on West, Northwest and North aspects today. Natural avalanches are unlikely. By this evening and into tomorrow, expect this hazard to increase along with sustained strong winds. It will be unlikely to trigger a Persistent Slab today at [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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Today’s problems will be Persistent Slab and Wind Slab. Large, human triggered persistent slabs, 1-4 feet deep, will be possible on all aspects. Natural persistent slab avalanches are unlikely. Small, human triggered wind slabs, 4-6″ thick will be likely on leeward aspects at mid and upper elevations, and naturals will be possible. At low elevations, [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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It’s the New Year, but the old persistent slab problem refuses to “turn a new leaf!” Today it will be possible to human trigger 1-3′ deep, large persistent slabs at mid and upper elevation, on all aspects. It will be possible to trigger small avalanches in isolated or extreme terrain at low elevation. Remote triggering [Read More] |
