Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Marmot Mountain Sw Face > Rae Wallace

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

IMB > SW Marmot > RW Flag Chute

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

Minor, localized, shallow cracking = wind blown snow over NSF

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Clear > Partly Sunny (FEW) in PM
No Precip
12:35 3100' -6C 5.5mph NE Down valley breeze
14:10 4000' -3.6C Calm
15:12 4250' -3.5C 1.8mph SE

Snow surface

Highly variable surfaces
Rounds faceting 0.25mm wind-packed and rounds faceting NSF
Wind scoured to crusts
Sastrugi
6-12" Pencil wind slab on loaded sidewalls and leeward over facets HS 225@ 3500'
2 cm windblown soft snow over NSF with localized cracking

Snowpack

No Whumphing
No cracking (other than localized, small)
No recent avalanches

Upper pack recent wind slab
6-12" pencil hard over NSF
Variable strength
Poor structure
Variable propagation
High friction in some locations

Mid-pack burried PWL
Strong strength
Poor structure
Low propagation

Photos & Video
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