We did not observe any recent naturals from overnight winds but it would have been a miracle to pick them out with todays poor vis and OVC skies.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Marmot
Toured up Marmot from Fishhook lot looking for signs of instability. Our biggest interest was how the snowpack was affected by yesterdays wind/new snow.
Avalanche Details
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observer Comments
No cracking or collapsing on our tour up the south ridge. As we continued on the ridge towards the mid-rib we stomped on a small cornice that propagated a small D1 wind slab approximately 12" thick that did not travel far. On our route down the mid-rib we did some ski cutting on leeward gully side walls, with no activity. One party member in our crew triggered a small 3x5 ft wind slab approximately 12" thick.
Weather
New snow on 2/28:
0.5" SWE and 6" new snow reported at IM 3550'
0.5" SWE with 3" new snow reported at Frostbite 2700'
Moderate temperatures and light easterly winds today. Flat light but no precipitation.
Temps @ 12pm
12deg F at 4500'
7degF at 3550'
20degF at 2700'
Snow surface
There is about 3-6 inches of new snow from yesterdays storm (2/28) however places that were wind scoured have much less or no new snow. Ski quality is much improved as you don't break through the layer of dense snow from last weeks heavy wet snowfall. (2/23)
Numerous buried and brittle drizzle crusts, deteriorating and buried wind crusts, and buried sun crusts (some deteriorating, some 1F/P hard) can be found in most locations. None are currently affecting the ski quality.
Snowpack
Dug a pit midway down Marmot mid rib, we did have any propagation in our ECT. Was not as much wind affect as expected, and transported snow was soft. We did not observe any fresh hard wind slabs. There was some buried NSF intermixed with rounds under the dense snow layer from the 2/23 storm.
3.1 Marmot ridge with less wind effect than anticipated!!
3.1 Cornices on south ridge of Marmot walking towards mid-rib were mostly unreactive
3.1 Wind affect from overnight winds on the marmot mid-rib
Kicking off a small cornice.
View back down the Marmot Ridge
Soft wind deposited snow on Marmot Midrib