Hatcher Pass receives new snow

HATCHER PASS — The avalanche forecast submitted by Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center on Feb. 20 expired 24 hours after it was issued. Since that time, more than six inches of new snow has fallen on the slopes at Hatcher Pass and continues to accumulate.

“The avalanche danger is low today at all elevations and on all aspects today,” wrote HPAC Forecaster Allie Barker on Saturday. “It is unlikely a person will trigger an avalanche. It will be possible to trigger small, slow moving, dry loose sluffs in isolated locations in terrain 40° and steeper. We encourage using safe travel protocol no matter the danger. 6-7” of new snow this week has dramatically improved conditions but has not eliminated rock hazards which are shallowly buried in much of the terrain at Hatcher Pass.”

One anonymous observer on HPAC noted that they had been caught and carried about 30 feet in a small dry loose avalanche in Microdot on Feb. 2. On February 24, the road run report on HPAC’s Instagram page included good news of new snowfall and temperatures in the 20’s, but warned of southeast winds that had blown snow on the ridge tops at Hatcher Pass.

On Saturday, HPAC will host a Zoom with the founders and forecasters on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. for a “State of the Snowpack” presentation.

HPAC issues forecasts twice weekly at https://hpavalanche.org/