| Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
| Avalanche Type | Dry Loose Snow | Aspect | Unknown |
| Elevation | 4400ft | Slope Angle | 40deg |
| Crown Depth | 6in | Width | 5ft |
| Vertical Run | 50ft |
Avalanche: Hatcher Pass
Location: Skyscraper to Granite Peaks
IMB > Skyscraper north ridge > Eldorado ridgeline > Tsnami Wall area > Martin Mine > Granite Peak > IMB
Avalanche Details
Easy to human trigger dry loose on slopes 38 degrees and steeper, on all aspects. 6" of fist hard surface snow sitting on steep slopes with smooth, firm bed surfaces.
Observer Comments
Pertinent negatives for slab avalanche hazard:
No cracking, collapsing, or avalanches. (No Cr, Co, Av)
Abundant tracks on all aspects, at mid to upper elevations, on slope 30-45 degrees in steepness, including multiple tracks over the top of others, with no observed human triggered avalanches. No recent glide releases.
Some human triggered, small loose dry, see avalanche details.
Weather
Generally calm, clear, cold all day.
11:30am, Skyscraper, 4300', -15C, NW 6kts
12:30am, Calm winds along the Skyscraper/Eldorado ridgeline, 4600'
Winds in the Matanuska Valley were visibly flagging on highest peaks all day.
Snow surface
0cm/Surface: Rounds faceting, and surface hoar in isolated locations, such as valley bottoms.
0-10cm down: rounds faceting
10cm-20cm down: facets, 1.5-2mm
Snowpack
Good stability.
No propagation in pit on North @ 4300', HS 135cm
Upper pack: The persistent slab component from the most recent avalanche cycle has recrystallized and loss mass and cohesion under clear, cold, and calm conditions. Near surface facets are widespread in the top 20cm of the snowpack and will be problematic for future loading events, especially if the winds pick up.
Mid pack: A couple MF crusts in the mid pack, but generally mod-good structure with no significant hardness changes or layers of concern.
Lower Pack:The bottom of the pack is generally pencil hard with no basal facet issues.
Skyscraper pit wall