Avalanche danger high in Hatcher Pass

WASILLA — Valley outdoor enthusiasts take note — the weekend’s dump of fresh powder also has triggered a backcountry avalanche warning for Hatcher Pass and the Talkeetna Mountains, with conditions expected to be hazardous for the next few days.

The Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center issued the 24-hour warning, rated as “high” at 6 a.m. Saturday, noting in a National Weather Service bulletin that avalanche danger will remain high through Sunday morning after heavy snow and wind created widespread areas of unstable snow Friday night. Both natural and human triggered avalanches are likely on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

According to the Avalanche Center, many avalanches occurred last weekend after fresh snowfall buried weaker snow, creating a “highly reactive” layer.

“This layer was very reactive after it was buried by a rapid load on Nov. 9 and stability was very slow to improve. With Thursday, Friday’s and today’s (Saturday) new snow load, this layer will have a chance of becoming active again,” the bulletin said. “This week was cold, clear and calm, perfect conditions for preserving powder, but also perfect conditions for the formation of weak, persistent grains like surface hoar and near surface facets.”

Backcountry travelers are urged to choose conservative terrain and stay away from steep avalanche-prone slopes, according to the bulletin.

For more information, visit the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center at hatcherpassavalanchecenter.org

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at steven.merritt@frontiersman.com