Avalanche danger rises as snow piles up in Hatcher Pass

While the lower elevations of the Mat-Su Valley in the Palmer-Wasilla areas saw a weekend filled with rain — much of it heavy at times — that moisture translated to a steady snowfall in Hatcher Pass that has raised the avalanche danger, according to an observer group.

The Alaska Avalanche Center issued an initial warning Saturday and an update Sunday that put the avalanche danger in the Hatcher Pass Recreation Area at “considerable” above 2,500 feet.

An observation from the Independence Mine area Monday morning reported continued snowfall.

“Early season, weak basal snow, combined with a rain crust, provide a perfect weak layer/bed surface for avalanches,” according to an online avalanche center report. “Winds last week transported snow into stiff slabs, and warm temperatures have allowed recent snow to consolidate into storm slabs. Both of these slab types will be reactive on the weak, basal snow and rain crust. Snowpit instability test results can easily be misleading. The snowpack has spatial variability that will make any single snowpit unreliable.”

A skier-triggered avalanche in the Hatch Peak/April Bowl area Saturday partially buried one skier in a group of three, according to the avalanche center. The skier was uninjured and able to self-extricate.

“Three users descended further east than planned towards the road and were traversing back west across a slope to get back to the intended line of descent,” according to the online report. “The third person to traverse the slope triggered an avalanche and was swept down (approximately) 400 feet. He was only partially buried and did not sustain any injuries. The second user was on the edge of triggered avalanche, but was able to get clear.”

The avalanche center report said all skiers in the group were level 1 certified, tested their avalanche beacons before heading out and dug a snow test pit.

“These folks did everything right up until their last decision on their exit route for the day,” according to the report. “The avalanche occurred at the end of the day as they were traversing a steep slope (37 degrees) above a terrain trap to exit the backcountry. One of the people involved informed us that they had rode a little too far down the mountain than intended, which changed their exit route plan. They then dropped their guard, and all crossed the avalanche slope at the same time, which could have resulted in one or all of them buried.”