Lawinenlagebericht

Maritime

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

The avalanche hazard is considerable above 3000 feet. Large human triggered avalanches remain likely in steep alpine terrain in upper elvations due to buried layer of weak snow. Slab avalanches 2-3 feet deep may be capable of affecting large pieces of terrain on steep alpine slopes. Manage your terrain today by reducing exposure to large slopes over 30 degrees. Recent avalanche activity is a clear indication of hazardous conditions. 

Public avalanche forecasts are issued Wednesday-Sunday at 8 am. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    2–3

    Recently numerous naturally tiggered persistent slab avalanches released through Thompson Pass as well as areas further from the road. Many of these involved impressive propagation lengths with the N Catchers Mitt slide being almost a mile wide (see pictures). These long and erratic fracture lines are a good indicator that a persistent weak layer is responsible for the activity. This type of problem can remain reactive much longer than typical storm snow instabilities. We are keeping the hazard elevated until we gain more information recarding the sensitivity of this problem. 

    This problem has been less obvious in the maritime zone but we a considering the hazard to be likely in upper elvations until we gain more information.

    It will remain likely for a person to trigger a large widely propagating avalanche, 2-3 feet deep, in steep alpine terrain today. We recommend limiting travel to simple terrain under 32 degrees that is not connected to or underneath avalanche terrain. 

    An additional weak layer of facets at the bottom of a thin snowpack below 3000 feet is showing reactivity in pit tests. We have yet to see any recent avalanche activity on this layer but it could become more of a concern with additional loading or changes in the overlying slab. Caution is advised on when travelling on or below terrain over 32 degrees.  

    Windslab: Wind stiffened or slabby snow in specific areas will likley make this problem more sensitive. 

    (2/13/2026)

    Naturally triggered persistent slab on N oddessey. The long irregular fracture line that crosses terrain features is an indicator of a burried persistent weak layer.

    Photo: Joshua McDonald

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2–3

    The weak facets near the ground in the shallow snowpack below 3000 feet also exist in upper elevations burried over a meter deep. Triggering this layer is unlikely due to its deep burial. Although unlikely, conseqquences of an avalanche would be severe so we recommend keeping this problem on your radar. Shallow areas where the layer is closer to the surface are more liklely to be effected by a person or snowmachine. These include rocky ridges/ourcrops and other high points that may have been scoured by the wind.  Persistent slab avalanches (problem 1) could possibility step down into this layer creating a very large avalanche.

    Travel advice: Avoid committing to big, consequential terrain where a deep release would be unsurvivable. Choose routes that minimize time spent under overhead start zones and avoid thin, rocky trigger points.

    (1/23/2026)

    Large connected natural hard slab avalanche associated with our deep persistent weak layer. Mt Dimond north face

    Photo: Gareth Brown

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity in the last 72 hours: 

-Numerous large naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches over a widespread area. Thompson Pass Corridor (Tones Temple, Little Oddesey, Oddesey, and N cathers Mitt). Tonsina Glacier 

-small to large slab avlanches reported up Bear Creek near ice climing routes

--Photos at the bottom of the page show avalanches from last week that failed on our persistent weak layer. These avalanches are older than 72 hours, but the layer that these avalanches failed on is still very much a concern. Detailed acounts of these avalanches can be found in the observations/avalanche tab.

Forecast Discussion

Recent Persistent slab avalanche activity through Thompson Pass corridor and areas further from the road indicates elevated instability. . We have been seeing human triggered and natural avalanche activity on this layer for over a week now. Due to the nature of this problem we expect the instability to linger for longer than expected with a simple storm slab or windslab problem.  Although you may experience conditions that feel stable this does not indicate the absence of hazard.  This problem has produced minimal activity in the maritime zone but it is still likely hazardous conditions exist in specific upper elevation areas.   

Relatively mild conditions will prevail through the week giving our snowpack time to adjust to recent snow loads from the week and slowly gain strength. There is some uncertainty regarding how much time it will take for the persistent slab problems to "heal". Until we gain more info we will be treading lightly while seeking terrain with minimal exposure. 

For more information regarding our snowpack, see our Season summary, Observations, and avalanche activity sections.   

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