from what my snowmachining friends say its off the hook right now and they got two feet already this week, but here is the official report:
SNOW CONDITIONS REPORT
Friday, March 25, 2005
HATCHER PASS
At the Independence Mine (el.3500’)
Only about 3� fell at this elevation this week, on Tuesday night. Below the Archangel valley there was only a trace of new snow. Strong (20-30 mph) winds blew from the south for a good part of Sunday which transported some snow into drifts and wind loaded lee areas. Temperatures ranges from 9 degrees on the 22nd to 38 degrees on the 25th and mid day temperatures averaged in the mid to high twenties.
Two skiers triggered a large slab avalanche on the steep, west face of Arkose Ridge on Saturday. They were not caught. No other avalanches than that were reported or observed. Visitors to the steep terrain should be sure make their own stability assessments and select their routes wisely as isolated areas of instability are possible.
The snowmobile trail on the Palmer side from the Gold Mint Trailhead to Hatcher Pass and the Archangel Road to near the Fern Mine were groomed on Thursday
As a donation the snow cat owner, Dave Hendrickson, groomed a part of the Nordic ski trail system in the Independence Bowl as well as the sledding adjacent to the parking lot.
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding should be pretty good though the south slopes have a layer of sun crust on them.
The Gold Mint and the Reed Lakes trails were packed on Friday with snowmobiles and a snow cat as a result of search and rescue planning operations and an aircraft recovery operation.
D.O.T. has the road and the parking lots well plowed, they spent several days up there this week.
Play safe,
Pat Murphy
Chief Ranger
Hatcher Pass/Matanuska Dist
