Seward and Lost Lake

While there may be isolated pockets of stubborn windblown snow capable of producing small avalanches, it is generally unlikely that you will trigger one today. That chance is never zero, and it is always essential to practice smart travel protocols. Always keep an eye out for signs of unstable snow like shooting cracks or collapsing, and be prepared to adjust your objectives if you notice any of these red flags.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We are excited to roll out some changes to our Chugach State Park forecast product beginning this weekend. We will issue 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! 

Free Forecaster Chat at the Breeze Inn in Seward, March 5! Grab some food and drink at 6 pm on March 5 and join CNFAC forecaster Mik Dalpes to discuss the ‘state of the snowpack’, learn about resources on the CNFAC website, discuss tips for managing persistent slab problems, and bring your hard question for a Q & A.  The Mt. Alice room is located just off the lobby of The Breeze Inn Hotel, located at 303 North Harbor Dr. right off 3rd Ave in Seward.

Recent Avalanches: The last known avalanche in the Seward/Lost Lake area was a small snowmachine-triggered wind slab 8 days ago near Snug Harbor. 

We are in a period of generally stable conditions until we see a significant loading event. The weak layer of faceted snow that has been giving us trouble for most of the season hasn't produced an avalanche in a week and a half and appears dormant for now. The wind slabs that formed during last week's outflow winds have had time to heal, though there are likely still some scattered pockets that may remain reactive today. A motorized avalanche class noted a recent avalanche like this on a small bank in the Seattle Flats yesterday, and there is an outlying chance you may find something similar today.

As we often say, Low danger doesn't mean no danger. Keep an eye out for warning signs like shooting cracks or collapsing, and be prepared to adjust your plans if you see any red flags. Always travel one at a time in steep terrain, and watch your partners from safe spots outside of avalanche runout zones to improve your chances of recovering if you do trigger an unexpected avalanche.