Avalanche: Hatcher Pass

We spent 4 days between 4/16/2016 and 4/19/2016 skiing the east fork of the Sheep Glacier and the headwaters of the Chickaloon Glacier. Snow depths on the glaciers were 2 meters or greater. Snow bridges were generally quite thick, though we were turned around once on the upper Chickaloon by a series of thin snow bridges in a heavily crevassed area. Snow conditions varied from corn on the southern 1/3rd of the compass to powder on the northern 1/3rd of the compass with a crusty transition on the remainder. We observed evidence of two very small storm slabs on north aspects and triggered one larger hard slab on a southerly aspect, which is described in avalanche details below. No other avalanches were observed. Snow conditions were classic Talkeetnas: 4 feet of heavier slab overlying depth hoar. Solar point releases were common in the late afternoon. Pictures of snow conditions and the skier triggered avalanche are attached.