Avalanche Fatality On Hatcher Pass In Alaska’s Talkeetna Mountains
Update 1/6/2016: Here is a link to the official report from the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center.
The Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center reports that an avalanche fatality occurred on the Willow side of Hatcher Pass around 2:30 PM on January 2, 2016.
A group of snowmachiners were riding near Craggy Creek when they triggered an avalanche. One snowmachiner was swept off the trail and was buried approximately 6-feet deep. He had appropriate gear and was extricated quickly, but did not survive. His identity has not been released. RIP.
At this point in time, the body has yet to be recovered due to “blizzard like weather.” According to the Alaska Department Of Public Safety, the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Parks Rangers, and Alaska Mountain Rescue Group members will reassess conditions on 1/3/16 and hope to recover the body.
The avalanche occurred during Considerable avalanche hazard.
Hatcher Pass is a popular backcountry destination in the Talkeetna Mountains between Palmer and Wasilla, Alaska. This range has had a very snowy winter so far. It is also the area where backcountry skier Liam Walsh went missing earlier during the 2015/2016 season.
Be safe out there. We will update this post as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: The snowmachiner that passed away was Dashiell “Dash” Erickson. – KTUU.com
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Read more about this avalanche fatality on Hatcher Pass in Alaska from these sources:
- Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
- Frontiersman.com
- Alaska Department Of Public Safety
- KTUU.com
