Lawinenlagebericht

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

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

Even though there is a break in weather today the snowpack has not had a break. Constant rain and snow has created a variety of concerning avalanche conditions. There is a good chance of triggering a wind slab avalanche 1 to 2’ above 2,500’ on steep wind loaded slopes. A person could also trigger a much larger avalanche on the December facets buried up to 5’ deep. Finally, wet loose avalanches may catch you off guard where the surface crust is thin and you are sinking into warm, wet snow. The safest option is to choose lower angle slopes with nothing steep above you.

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Avalanche Hazard Reduction Work: There will be intermittent traffic delays Friday February 6th, 2026 on the Seward Highway for Avalanche Hazard Reduction work. From mileposts 83 to 88 on the Seward Highway, South of Girdwood and North of Portage, motorists should expect delays of up to 45-60 minutes between 09:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Updates will be posted on the 511 system.  http://511.alaska.gov/

Join us Friday, Feb. 13, for the annual Snowball fundraiser! This event is a collaboration with the Alaska Avalanche School and is always a fun way to support two nonprofit organizations that provide avalanche information and education in our area. Silent auction, beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and music by Hope Social Club! Tickets and event info at alaskaavalanche.org

Upcoming Free Avalanche Workshops - CNFAC is hosting several avalanche awareness and rescue workshops in the coming weeks, starting this Saturday, Feb 7th, at Arctic Valley Lodge. These will be hosted in Anchorage, Seward, and Turnagain Pass. Click this link to get more information!

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: Widespread avalanche activity was reported in Girdwood, Portage Valley and in Turnagain Pass likely as a result of Tuesday's storm. These look like storm slab avalanches that did not step down to the December facets but we are not sure. We do believe avalanches on Pastoral and Seattle Ridge releasing last week did fail on weak faceted snow. 

    There is a good chance of triggering a wind slab avalanche 1 to 2’ deep on wind loaded slopes. These will likely be in upper elevations as the rain/snow line reached above 3,000’ yesterday. As the storm made its exit Sunburst recorded 40 to 50 mph gusts accompanied with snow that continued into the evening hours. Ridgetop winds out of the east are forecast to average 5 to 15 mph today. 

    This type of problem is commonly found below ridgelines and in gullies. Feeling for stiff snow and/or shooting cracks underneath you are obvious signs you are traveling on a wind slab. There is a chance that a wind slab avalanche could step down into a deeper layer of buried facets producing a much larger avalanche.

    Wet Loose Avalanches: We are seeing wet loose avalanches after several days of above freezing temperatures and heavy amounts or rain saturating the snowpack. Overnight temperatures have started to cool below freezing which is a good thing, however this problem will remain a concern if there is not a hard crust on the surface and you are sinking into warm wet snow. These can start small and get larger quickly, entraining a lot of snow. They can be hard to escape and could pull you off cliffs, into terrain traps or into trees.

    (2/6/2026)

    Blowing snow on Sunburst at 5pm on 2/5. 

     

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Today's nicer weather may lure us into pushing out into steeper terrain. Unfortunately we have a lingering weak layer that is responsible for massive natural and remote triggered avalanches this season. The culprit is the December facets buried 2 to 5’ or deeper. The good news is that this layer looks to be gaining strength. The bad news is that this layer still exists in many places and could be easier to trigger on slopes where the snow is thin, which is nearly impossible to know for sure. 

    This type of problem is very difficult to outsmart and the avalanches will be huge so the safest option is to give the snow some time to gain strength and choose less consequential terrain for now.

    (2/1/2026)

    Large avalanche on the northwest aspect of Pastoral. We don't know for sure what layer this released on, but the very wide propagation suggests some kind of persistent weak layer. 

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