Lawinenlagebericht

Seward and Lost Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Avalanche conditions are still dangerous today especially above 2,500'. Increasing ridgetop southeast wind could make it easy to trigger an avalanche in freshly windblown snow up to 1' deep. New wind-loading will also put stress on buried weak layers increasing chances a person could trigger a much larger avalanche up to 3' deep. Watch for roller balls to know wet avalanches could be a problem. The snowpack is highly variable with regard to aspect and elevation right now, so it is important to assess the slopes you intend to ride. Choosing low angle slopes is always a safe option.

MONDAY AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: A storm is arriving this evening favoring Portage and Seward. It will be accompanied by strong southeast wind so avalanche conditions will become more dangerous on Monday, especially in places that receive more new snow and rain. The safest option is to avoid avalanche terrain during periods of loading with new snow and wind. 

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Forecast Operations: We have transitioned to our late season forecasting schedule, issuing forecasts Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Our last forecast will be Thursday, April 30th followed by our annual "Spring Tips" on May 1st. 

Hiking on trails below avalanche paths this time of year is dangerous and not recommended.  Avalanches may release into valley bottoms, covering up summer hiking trails. This includes the Marathon Jeep Trail, which is a terrain trap for most of the hike. Other trails in this area that can be dangerous right now include the Russian Lakes trail to the Barber Cabin, Crescent Lake, Ptarmigan Lake, and Victor Creek Trail. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: We got out to Snug Harbor yesterday and observed several recent avalanches within the new storm and windblown snow. Several large wet loose avalanches were also observed on southerly facing slopes. On April 11 and 12, several slab avalanches were observed on a hot southerly slope on Lowell Peak where a larger avalanche ran to the ground.

    There are several layers of weak snow buried up to 3' deep that are still capable of being triggered by a person. These layers are in the stage where they may not give any feedback and it could be the 3rd or 10th person that triggers the slope.

    With the possibility of serious consequences and high uncertainty, terrain choice is the way to manage this situation. Choose simple terrain that fans out at the bottom. Avoid complicated terrain that has rocks, trees or gullies below. 

    Wind Slab: Southeast ridgetop winds should be strong enough today to build small fresh wind slabs. Watch for blowing snow to know where these are forming. These can be found in the same place as the more dangerous problem described above. A small Wind Slab could trigger a much larger avalanche.

     

  • Loose Wet

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

    Several large wet loose avalanches were reported yesterday across our forecast areas. Once this type of avalanche becomes large it can be hard to escape. These avalanches are difficult to predict, but the things to pay attention to include:

    •  Is there a crust on the surface and is it supportable? This is a good sign, but this can change quickly if the snow is warming so continue to check through the day. If you start to sink up to your shin in wet snow (snow that you can squeeze water out of and makes your glove wet) it's time to stay off of steep slopes.
    • Are there roller balls or other recent Loose Avalanches around and does the debris look wet? (looks more blue and firm than dry debris) If so, wet avalanches are becoming a concern. There is a window of time where it is still safe to ride these slopes, but once the crust breaks down completely conditions become dangerous and chances of being caught in a Wet Slab avalanche go up.

    (4/25/2026)

    We saw multiple wet loose avalanches like this in the Snug Harbor and Boulder Creek area on Saturday. These were likely triggered by small roller balls falling from the cornice. 

    Photo: Andrew Schauer

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