Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

As it warms up on sunny slopes it will be easier to trigger a wet loose avalanche that has the potential to entrain a lot of snow and travel long distances. In upper elevations it is possible for someone to trigger a wind slab avalanche up to 1’ deep on a potential weak layer. Seek shady slopes in the heat of the day and be wary of wind loaded slopes below ridgelines.

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Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent Avalanches: A slab avalanche was reported on Wilson Peak yesterday which could of been a wind slab. The photo below will give you an idea of the location and size of an avalanche that may exist on wind loaded slopes at upper elevations. Small wet loose avalanches increased in the afternoon. 

    Temperatures look to warm up in the afternoon which will increase the chance of wet avalanches. Clouds are expected to increase through the day which could shade sunny slopes or trap heat from the sun. Regardless, if the air starts to feel hot and the snow becomes wet and heavy your best bet is to head to shadier slopes (north aspects). These have the potential to gain momentum and carry a lot of snow and you into trees or terrain traps.  

    We are close to the time where warm temperatures and a saturated snowpack will begin to release wet slab avalanches. This problem is also more likely in the afternoon and can be managed by moving to shadier slopes or staying in upper elevations where it is colder.

    Lingering wind slabs may still be easier to trigger than expected, especially if they are sitting over a weak layer of snow. Look out for these if you are traveling on ridgelines where they tend to form. 

    (4/9/2026)

    Human triggered roller balls nearly travelled to valley bottom on the steep solar slopes of Tenderfoot.

    Photo: Marc Heifetz

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