Boletín de aludes

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Thu
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó last year. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

There are good chances a person could trigger an avalanche a foot deep on a layer of buried weak snow above 1500'. These avalanches could be deeper in areas that were loaded by recent winds or received more snow during last weeks storm. These sensitive weak layers could be triggered from some distance away or even from below. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to stick to slopes 30 degrees or less.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Avalanche Closure Notification for Wednesday February 26, 2025, Portage Glacier Highway MP 3-4: There will be intermittent traffic delays Wednesday February 26th, 2025, on the Portage Glacier Highway for Avalanche Hazard Reduction work. From mileposts 3 to milepost 4 on the Portage Glacier Highway, motorists should expect delays of up to 45 minutes between 09:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Updates will be posted on the 511 system. http://511.alaska.gov

Free avalanche outreach events this week on the Kenai Peninsula!

  • Today, Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kenai River Brewery in Soldotna from 6:00 to 7:00 pm - Join forecaster Daniel Krueger to talk about the state of the snowpacks and useful backcountry tips and tricks. More info here.
  • Tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Breeze Inn Hotel in Seward from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Join forecaster Mik Dalpes to talk about the state of the snowpacks, mapping resources, and how to interpret stability tests. More info here.

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Recent Avalanches: We got another report yesterday of human-triggered avalanches in Turnagain Pass. We don't have specific details about this incident, but it sounds like one person was carried and deployed their airbag. We appreciate this information and hope that everyone is ok. There were several human-triggered avalanches and cornice falls over the weekend. 

    All of these slides are failing on weak snow (surface hoar and facets) that developed during the calm period of weather earlier this month. These weak layers are stressed with recent storm and wind deposited snow, making it easy for the extra weight of a person to trigger an avalanche. The danger is MODERATE, but these are heads up conditions. The snowpack is so sensitive in some places that we may not get any signs like whumpfing or shooting cracks before an entire slope releases. An avalanche in one location may trigger another avalanche close by or even over a ridge.  All slopes are guilty until proven innocent right now and the easiest way to manage this is to avoid slopes over 30 degrees. 

    If you are heading for steeper slopes assessment is key and it can be tricky. Sticking a probe or pole in the snow can tell you if there is firm snow over weak snow. Quick hand pits could also reveal this set up and how touchy it might be. This problem can be spotty in it's distrubution, so assessing each area as you go is important. Jumping or riding on small test slopes can also give good information as to how newer snow is bonding to the snow beneath. Unfortunately, the spotty nature of this problem could mean you find stable snow in one place and trigger an avalanche close by.

    Cornices: There were a few cornice fall triggered slab avalanches over the weekend in Turnagain Pass. Warm temperatures are making cornices more likely to fail so give them some space and watch for them above if a route takes you beneath. 

    Glide Avalanches: Glide avalanches are still releasing occasionally and are large and powerful. Try not to get sucked into a route that leads underneath if possible and make a plan that avoids them completely as they can release anytime.

    (2/24/2025)

    A quick hand pit at 1600' confirmed 5" that fell over the past week is sitting on top of a weak surface that formed in early February. The buried surface hoar layer is about 1" thick and upright in this location. 

    Photo: Caleigh Warner

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