Summit Lake

Avalanche conditions in Summit Lake are generally stable. Stubborn wind slabs up to 1’ deep and smaller dry loose avalanches are worth sussing out in steep terrain. Although the danger is low, traveling in the backcountry always involves risk. It will be important to practice safe travel habits such as exposing one person at a time in avalanche terrain.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Join CNFAC for the annual Turnagain Pass Avalanche Awareness Day TOMORROW, March 14, from 12–4 PM at the motorized lot. In addition to free burgers and hot dogs, you can run rescue drills, chat with forecasters, and demo sleds with AMDS, Anchorage Yamaha/ Polaris. Meet the forecasters and partners from the Alaska Avalanche School, Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs. Come refresh your skills, talk snowpack, and eat a hot dog or three!

Last weekend's storm did not deliver enough snow to tip the scales in Summit Lake. The general lack of active weather has made snow conditions more stable and less likely to trigger an avalanche large enough to bury a person. However, there are always things to look out for, even on low danger days. Older wind slabs up to 1’ deep should be harder to trigger today. They can be found below ridgelines and in gullies where the snow will feel firmer. Dry loose avalanches should be smaller in size but are known to knock you off your feet and could carry you into the trees or other places you don’t wanna go. If you see snow “sluffing” around you, ride away from it to avoid getting caught or pull over and wait for the moving snow to go by. It has also been well over a month since there has been a persistent slab avalanche triggered 2 to 4’ deep on a layer of facets. Until we get a decent storm it will be very unlikely to trigger an avalanche on this layer.