Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Easterly ridgetop winds are backing off, but there are still chances for human triggered wind slabs today up to 1' deep above 2,500'. Warm temperatures and occasional light rain below 2,000' has warmed the snow surface producing small natural wet loose avalanches in the mid and lower elevations. Glide cracks continue to creep downhill everyday and can release at anytime, so pass underneath them quickly if they are unavoidable. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Easterly ridgetop winds averaged in the teens mph yesterday so there may be some lingering wind slabs out there. With lighter winds forecast today, there may not be blowing snow as a sign to show us where these pillows are located. They are typically just below the ridgelines, in cross loaded gullies, and on steep rolls. Feeling for firm snow over soft snow, jumping or riding on inconsequential slopes, and watching for shooting cracks will be the best ways to identify a wind slab that may still be sensitive the the weight of a person. Two days ago a skier was caught in a small wind slab avalanche on Kickstep Mountain in Turnagain Pass. Check out those details here and thanks to those folks for sharing. The wind slabs that have been built since active weather arrived Friday are sitting on weak snow in some places from the last two weeks of calm weather. This may make them sensitive to the weight of a person for a longer period of time.

    Be on the lookout for natural and human triggered loose avalanches today. Dry loose avalanches may be found in the upper elevations in areas sheltered from wind and wet loose avalanches can be found below 2,000' where warm temperatures and light rain have weakened the snow surface. These should be on the small side, but can have consequences if they end up taking us for a ride. 

    Glide Avalanches: We have noticed rumpled snow underneath many of the glide cracks that are out there. They are creeping downhill, disturbing the snow beneath, and with their unpredictable nature it's best to avoid spending any time underneath them. 

    (2/18/2025)

    The arrows show the direction the wind is blowing. Strong winds scoured the slopes of Butch Mountain to bare rock and loaded slopes on the leeward side.

    Photo: Daniel Krueger

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    While it is unlikely at this point that the weight of a person could trigger a large avalanche in the Summit Lake area, this problem doesn't tend to go away completely because the weak snow is still sitting there under a slab. About 2 weeks ago an avalanche failed on weak snow near the ground on the south side of Tenderfoot. We think this happened during the outflow northwest wind event when those weak layers were overloaded with a pile of new snow from wind. Last week a skier triggered a whumpf (collapse of a weak layer) on Raven's Ridge. These events tell us an avalanche could still occur with enough new weight or finding just the right spot. This problem can be completely avoided by sticking to slopes less than 30 degrees.

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