No cracking, collapsing, or avalanches
A lot of snow machine traffic in the mid elevation band and on the aprons of steeper slopes above.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Archangel
IMB >Archangel > Fairangel and return
Observer Comments
Weather
Clear skies
Calm to Light NW winds, no wind transported snow observed
-12C @3700' @ 14:00 in upper Fairangel Valley
Snow surface
2-8mm surface hoar widespread, larger in valley bottoms/mid elevation band
Widespread, suportable, missle hard wind board above 3500'
Below 3500' NSFs 10-15cm deep, where pre-existing snow is 4F hardness. No sloughing or loose dry on steep slopes.
Continue to track and observe SH and NSF for future weak layer.
Widespread, overall coverage is still excellent, with very little scouring to the ground in the last big wind event. This bodes well for the future, as even a few inches of snow will have a significant improvement to the current, generally fair to poor, riding conditions.
Snowpack
HS 150-250cm @ 3200-4000' in Northeast Bowl of Pinnacle, Archangel Valley
Wind loaded areas HS 300+cm
No layers of concern within the snowpack
Only avalanche hazard is glide avalanches. Some glide cracks have been obscured with wind blown snow in the last wind event, and are therefore difficult to identify.
Glide activity has reduced in frequency.
Open creeks at head of Archangel Valley, open creeks with specific possible crossings at Idaho peak access off the Archangel motorized trail.
Archangel Valley, SW, 4400´showing the remnants of natural wind slabs avalanches from the last large wind event, likely week of December 8. Upper viewers left old crown showing, upper right could not identify a crown. Debris piles at the base of the runnouts.