Lawinenlagebericht

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Thu
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Despite almost 2 weeks of calm weather, there are still good chances a person could still trigger a large avalanche up to 3' deep above 2,500'. This problem is probably more likely in the Summit Lake area than Turnagain Pass. The snowpack may not give any red flags and this can be completely avoided by choosing low angle terrain. Glide avalanches continue to release daily. Watch for new cracks forming and spread out in run out zones.

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SPECIAL ANOUNCEMENTS: 

Avalanche Closure Notification for Wednesday December 10th, 2025: There will be intermittent traffic delays Wednesday December 10th, 2025 on the Seward Highway for Avalanche Hazard Reduction work. DOT crews will be conducting target acquisition on multiple avalanche paths. From milepost 97-99 on the Seward Highway, Between Girdwood and Anchorage in Bird flats. Motorist should expect delays of up to 30 minutes between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Updates will be posted on the 511 system. http://511.alaska.gov

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: Two weeks ago there were 2 remote-triggered avalanches on buried surface hoar in Summit Lake. There was also one slab on Tri-Tip that is old. Since then, it has been only glide avalanches that have been reported. 

    What we know about this type of problem is that it will stop giving red flags like a whumpf or a remote-trigger avalanche and as time passes we want to trust the snowpack. Weeks after the last red flag was observed, the third or fourth person on the slope could trigger a large avalanche. We don't know exactly how likely this is or where these trigger spots are located. 

    These weak layers are probably gaining strength, but we have more uncertainty about this in Summit Lake. Good travel protocols can reduce the chances of more than one person being caught if steep terrain is in the plan. Choose low angle up routes, be thoughtful about safe spots, and be ready for rescue if we get surprised.

    Wind slab: On Sunday there were some wind speeds in the 20s mph from the north on the ridgelines. There may be an old leftover wind slab in the alpine today that could be 1' deep. Feel for firm snow over softer snow to know you have found a wind slab and a shooting crack means there's enough energy left to produce an avalanche. If a wind slab is triggered, it may step down to a larger and more dangerous avalanche.

    (12/6/2025)

    The obvious 65cm layer and the other layer at 52cm from the ground

    Photo: Bennett, Richard, Gus, and Ben

  • Glide Cracks

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

    The glide avalanche problem has been extra tricky this year with their new habit of releasing without a visible crack. This occurred on Repeat Offender and Magnum in Turnagain Pass, and Tri-Tip in Summit Lake. This makes it impossible to avoid them if we can't see them to begin with. An observer described an audible crack before the avalanche on Tri-Tip that they caught on video. So at least there might be some kind of warning. My partner and I managed this the other day by spreading out in the runout zone on our way to Taylor Pass. 

    (12/9/2025)

    Glide in the middle of the corn biscuit up track. This is in Turnagain Pass, but the same thing could occur in Summit Lake.

    Photo: Creighton/ Mumma

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