Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There is still a chance someone could trigger a large avalanche 2 to 4’ deep on a buried weak layer of snow. This is more likely above 2,500 so the safest option is to avoid consequential slopes in the alpine. Triggering a wind slab avalanche up to 1’ deep is unlikely below ridgelines, convex rolls and in gullies. Avoiding consequential terrain is the safest option to avoid these problems. 

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We are excited to roll out some changes to our Chugach State Park forecast product beginning this weekend. We will begin issuing a full avalanche forecast with a danger rating, avalanche problems, and a 24-hour outlook on Saturday mornings at 7 am.  We'll continue issuing a forecast one day per week (Saturday mornings) through the end of the season. We will test this for the remainder of the season and reassess in the spring. Thanks for bearing with us as we take this next step to continue to grow the program! 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: Several wind slab avalanches occurred during last week's outflow wind event.  

    The snowpack structure in Summit Lake is poor, meaning there is a slab of snow sitting on top of weak facets 2 to 4’ deep. On Tuesday we experienced two collapses (whumpfs) between 2,500 and 3,000’. That being said, we have not heard of an avalanche releasing on this weak layer in several weeks and snowpack tests have not given us concerning results in a while. This can be a tricky problem to completely trust. On Colorado Mtn we still had our guard up and avoided exposing ourselves in consequential terrain in the alpine which is the safest way to steep clear of this problem altogether. 

    Winds slab avalanches up to 1’ deep are unlikely in the alpine and on wind-affected slopes between the road and 2,500’. They are commonly found below ridgelines, convex rollovers, and in loaded gullies. The snow can sound hollow, feel stiff and you may see shooting cracks radiating away from you. Sheltered snow in the trees will be the safest and softest place to avoid this problem. 

    (2/24/2026)

    Approaching Colorado Peak. Between the poor snow structure and wind loading we did not ski either bowls. 

    Photo: Daniel Krueger

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