| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Upper Willow Creek
Had some good visibility to survey the landscape following the Saturday / Sunday storm. Snowmachined over to Upper Willow Creek.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Small dry loose avalanche on west aspect of Skyscraper.
Weather
Wind calm to light from the east. Temps in the mid-20's. Skies progressed from overcast to clear throughout the day.
Snow surface
10.5" (1.17" SWE) storm total new snow measured at Independence Mine. Thin drizzle (?) crust caps the new snow everywhere. Snow surface is noticeably wind affected, but still very soft.
Snowpack
Some hand pits failed in clean shear with easy to moderate force on loose or chained facets below new snow. Most hand pits and shovel shears failed with moderate to hard force, with a mix of clean shears at new / old interface and irregular sheers on chained facets under new snow.
Dug two pits:
Skyscraper Mountain, 4000', W Aspect, ~20 degree slope. HS = 100 cm. ECTN4 new / old interface. ECTN12 under 3" wind crust on facets. Very clean shovel shear with moderate force at new old interface.
Granite Mountain, 3850', SE Aspect, ~20 degree slope. HS = 105 cm. ECTP23 down 45 cm on .75 to 1 mm rounding facets on a 4cm P hard crust, under an F hard to 4F hard slab.
Skyscraper Mountain, 4000', W Aspect, ~20 degree slope. HS = 100 cm. ECTN4 new / old interface. ECTN12 under 3" wind crust on facets.
Clean shovel shear on faceted snow below a thin wind crust in pit above.
Widespread wind texturing on Bullion Ridge. Snow surface is still very soft, though.
Wind texturing on west aspect of Skyscraper.
Small dry loose avalanche on west aspect of Skyscraper.
Wind texturing in Upper Willow Creek. Snow surface is still very soft, though. Riding conditions are great in valley bottoms right now.