With all the new snow I called the Hatcher Pass Park Ranger this morning to see if the Palmer side is open. I left a message, hopefully I will hear back soon. Unless of course someone else already knows.
Hatchers Pass- Palmer side
- Thread starter Prayn4snow
- Start date
Report soon?
40 some inches at Independence. I called this morning and they said Ranger Dan is out in the field today and should have a report sometime. With the snow they should open it.
Mark
40 some inches at Independence. I called this morning and they said Ranger Dan is out in the field today and should have a report sometime. With the snow they should open it.
Mark
This is a website that post openings and closings
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/hpsnowreport.pdf
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/hpsnowreport.pdf
Palmer side opens Sat Dec 13th.
The Ranger just called me back today and said the Palmer side will open Sat. Dec 13th at 9am. However....They said only the upper "Fish hook" parking lot is open now (not enough snow in lower lots). They said the snow is marginal at Fish hook so stay on the trail until you get up to Hatchers Pass Summit. Up high there is good snow, but warned there are still rocks in some areas.
Don't forget to bring $5 for parking and Don't leave trash in the parking lot!
The Ranger just called me back today and said the Palmer side will open Sat. Dec 13th at 9am. However....They said only the upper "Fish hook" parking lot is open now (not enough snow in lower lots). They said the snow is marginal at Fish hook so stay on the trail until you get up to Hatchers Pass Summit. Up high there is good snow, but warned there are still rocks in some areas.
Don't forget to bring $5 for parking and Don't leave trash in the parking lot!
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Seasonal parking pass
If you don't want to pay $5 for parking each time you ride, you can buy a seasonal parking pass ($40) from any of the Rangers (cash or check) or you can stop by their office at Finger lake park in Palmer between 8am-4pm.
If you don't want to pay $5 for parking each time you ride, you can buy a seasonal parking pass ($40) from any of the Rangers (cash or check) or you can stop by their office at Finger lake park in Palmer between 8am-4pm.
Archangel
What about Archangel. Is it open?
Mark
What about Archangel. Is it open?
Mark
awesome, this is good news for sure
Just an update from todays ride. Really good powder up in Hatcher's today, the trails from the upper parking lot (near Independence Mine) are in good condition leading up to Summit Lake. There were less riders today than I expected to see, perhaps due to the cold. It was actually warmer in the valleys than it was back in Wasilla though. Be careful with hidden rocks, my buddy hit one today that sent his sled (and him still attached) flying over 20 feet through the air, only to land on another rock - wedging his right ski under the rock, twisting his sled to the side, and throwing "said buddy" another 10 feet through the air. Luckily he landed in powder (albeit with a rough slam against his knee). His 2001 Summit 800 didn't fair as well, the right trailing arm got totaled and he sheered the steering support, slashing his shock in the process.
Soooo, be careful everyone. Great powder, but as always, rocks lying in hiding just below the surface.
dt
Soooo, be careful everyone. Great powder, but as always, rocks lying in hiding just below the surface.
dt
Glad to hear hes ok, Scratch another trailing arm up for Hatchers Crash. Gotta watch for the land mines!!!
Dave-
Talked to Tim. He made it sound like it wasnt that bad. The snow sound good though. Glad you had a good time. Donna and I will have to make it up there very soon. Donna can rip now, just need to find someone to watch the little one. Gimme a call when you get this....
-Scott
Scott, send me an email with your #, my new phone doesn't have your celly.
update??
Anybody have any snow condition up-dates on palmer side hatchers???? think'n of ride'n there on sat?????? but the whole rock stuff doesnt sound to appealing from other posts!!!
Anybody have any snow condition up-dates on palmer side hatchers???? think'n of ride'n there on sat?????? but the whole rock stuff doesnt sound to appealing from other posts!!!
Rode Palmer side today. The lower parking lot is still closed (insufficient snow cover). We went over Summit & back to Dogsled. We went to the top, but not over and down, no other tracks over that we seen. There has been no "new" snow for about a week, and what was there settled some. It still needs allot more, we were hitting rocks every where. We still had fun even though flat light and bruised & beaten by rocks.
Today at Hatchers ... close call.
UpAndOver the Pass to the left at the base of Summit Lake ... carved a few highmarks and on the third climb I broke a slab off at the apex of my turn. It cracked all the way in front of me and I was able to climb up and out of it and side hill to safety.
Notice in the pics my track coming out on top and to the left.
Hoar frost base surgar snow, very un-stable snow... careful out there.
Highlife
UpAndOver the Pass to the left at the base of Summit Lake ... carved a few highmarks and on the third climb I broke a slab off at the apex of my turn. It cracked all the way in front of me and I was able to climb up and out of it and side hill to safety.
Notice in the pics my track coming out on top and to the left.
Hoar frost base surgar snow, very un-stable snow... careful out there.
Highlife
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Headwall
I know that headwall very well. When we fly paragliders out of Summit we try to make it to that headwall, guaranteed lift. The storms that blow into Hatchers always deposits snow on the leeward slopes. Pretty much any wall on the East aspect will be loaded with drifted snow.
Here is a pic of the last soaring flight of the year at Hatchers. New and falling snow. Skirting the clouds. One hour flight off Nixons Nose (the rock outcrop on the North side of the pass).
Mark
I know that headwall very well. When we fly paragliders out of Summit we try to make it to that headwall, guaranteed lift. The storms that blow into Hatchers always deposits snow on the leeward slopes. Pretty much any wall on the East aspect will be loaded with drifted snow.
Here is a pic of the last soaring flight of the year at Hatchers. New and falling snow. Skirting the clouds. One hour flight off Nixons Nose (the rock outcrop on the North side of the pass).
Mark
Wow! That could have been bad...I am glad you were able to climb out of it! That was pretty lucky. Your right, it is unstable up there right now. Every where we climbed we seen little slides compared to yours, so we quit climbing. Definitely not worth it. There was good snow for boondocking in some of the bowls however, still rocks to look out for. I hit one that stopped me in my tracks and sent me over the handlebars....I never even seen it. Again, glad your alright.
Thanks for the kind words. Yep, there is some good snow to be had and they call it SmashersPass for a reason!
A
Adrenalin
Well-known member
yes , yes they do !! just got back 10 min ago , and are still very MANY land mines (rocks) exposed and slightly not exposed , i found a couple , no damage thank god , gonna wait a couple more weeks and hope they get covered up better , was good riding none the less
Anyone been up there since?
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