Catching air

Doing the Hatcher Pass car shuffle, dozens of skiers and snowboarders cruised down through fresh snow and then drove back to the top of the hill as spring break marked the beginning of the end of ski season.

Paradise and 16-Mile maintained their traditional status as the most popular runs Tuesday afternoon in Hatcher Pass as the spring sun warmed the slopes and prompted some snowboarders to strip down to their T-shirts.

"It's getting a little icy, but it's a great day to be out," said Howard Riley, who had just zipped down Paradise with his two sons.

That seemed to be the general opinion -- the snow isn't great but the weather is terrific. Without the luxury of groomed trails, the snow on the Hatcher Pass runs quickly become packed under the heavy traffic. A few braver souls branched off the main trails in search of fresh powder, but most didn't find as much as they would have liked.

"That big storm wasn't so big up there," said Alaska State Park Ranger Pat Murphy. The snowstorm that dumped nearly 3 feet on Anchorage last weekend brought just 4 inches around Motherlode Lodge and 6 inches up higher.

The winter as a whole hasn't been a big snow season in Hatcher Pass, Murphy said, pointing out that before the recent snowfall there was just 4-1/2 feet around Independence Mine and 3 feet near Motherlode. And it could be a dangerous combination of snow conditions within that 3 or 4 feet.

"We have a little problem in that a thick layer of sugary snow … has developed under the snowpack," Murphy explained. This means the other snow layers can't bind to it, making the snow prone to sliding.

Murphy said there has been a fair amount of avalanche activity in the area, but some zones haven't released and are likely to soon.

Those who favor Paradise and 16-Mile can feel at ease, however.

"That is an excellent, safe place," Murphy said, "but getting there …"

When driving uphill from these runs, Murphy said the mountainside to the right is one that is ready to release and when it does the snow slides could come all the way across the road. Signs along this section of road warn of such avalanche potential.

Excluding this danger, road conditions in Hatcher Pass are excellent and have been most of the winter, Murphy said. Most of the drive up to Independence Mine is down to dry gravel, making it a little easier for the moms, dads and friends serving as chauffeurs.

Those who want to forego the adventure of Hatcher Pass and instead pay for groomed trails and ski lifts still have plenty of opportunity at resorts south of the Valley.

Alyeska Resort is scheduled to remain open until mid-April and as of earlier this week was reporting sunny skies, excellent visibility and temperatures warming from 20 degrees in the morning to the 40s in the afternoon. Night skiing, however, is shut down for the season.

In Hatcher Pass, Murphy said snow conditions generally attract skiers and snowboarders well into mid-April. Diehards who are unwilling to let go of winter can even find a strip of packed, old snow in May or June.