Lawinenlagebericht

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

A poor snowpack structure is fairly consistent across the advisory area.  Natural avalanches may be possible today as the Summit Lake areas has recieved more wind than neighboring zones. Human triggered avalanches will be easier to initiate 1-2' where weak faceted snow underlays a crust.  Minimize your exposure to consequential terrain when choosing where to ski or ride.  Lastly, if you are getting out in the backcountry today keep an eye on your partners and the potential for cold injuries.  

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory in effect until 4pm today for very cold temperatures as low as 20 to 35 degrees below zero.

Please join CNFAC lead forecaster and local snow-lebrity Andrew Schauer at the Girdwood Brewing Company tonight for our second 'Forecaster chat'  of the season! The event is free to the public and will kick off at 6:00 pm. Grab a beverage and tune in for a talk on the state of our local snowpack!   More info here.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    Recent avalanches: There were reports of a couple natural avalanches on Summit Peak and Gilpatricks as seen from the highway yesterday.  These likely ran on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning during the tail end of the storm.  There are no recent reports of human-triggered avalanches but we continue to received observations of large collapses in the treeline elevation band from 1,000' to 2,500'. 

    The likelihood of triggering avalanches today will depend on what areas have seen the most wind and snow over the past 48 hrs.  Based on Tuesday storm totals, Summit Lake recieved more snow that Turnagian Pass, which is atypical.  Combined with NW winds in the 20s gusting into the low 30s mph, a skier or snowmachiner will be more likely to trigger an avalanche where a deeper slab (more snow/ wind) has formed over weak facets, buried 1-2' deep.  In sheltered areas that recieved less snow and wind since Tuesday's storm, human-triggered avalanches will be less likely and smaller.  

    It'll be important today to evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify any features of concern, such as wind-loaded convexities/ terrain traps.  Keep your consequences in mind if you're committing to travel on a particular slope.  You can always stick to low angle, simple terrain to completely avoid this avalanche problem.  Even a small avalanche involvement could become a much bigger deal given the extreme cold temperatures today. 

    (1/5/2026) Tenderfoot.

    Shooting cracks such as this off your skis are  good indicator that you've found a touchy wind slab over facets.

    Photo: Nathan Baird

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2

    Tuesday's snowfall was atypical for the Chugach and Kenai mountains in terms of colder than normal temps and low snow densities.  This ultra low-density snow is a joy to play in but it doesn't take much wind to transport it into fresh wind slabs.  These tend to form along ridgelines and convexities and are likely to be in the 1-2' range.  Red flags you should key into include travelling over stiffer snow, recent avalanche, shooting cracks, or whumpfing in the snowpack.  The latter two can be observed from simple, flat terrain and are obvious signs that wind slabs are sensitive to human triggers.

    Dry loose avalanches (sluffs) were observed in steeper terrain yesterday given the very low-density storm snow.  These were generally not large enough to bury a person but can be large enough to knock a skier off their feet or push someone into a terrain trap. 

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