Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Winds are expected to increase today and wind transported snow could cause natural or human triggered avalanches 6-12" deep in isolated areas at higher elevations. Keep an eye out for active wind transport and shooting cracks on the snow surface to identify wind loaded areas. Glide avalanches are also still a concern and can cause large and destructive avalanches. Stay safe by avoiding spending time underneath open glide cracks.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    After a long stretch of stable weather, today marks a change to a more active pattern and possibly precipitation returning to the forecast. Winds are expected to pick up today out of the east at 10-20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.  During the cold clear weather, the surface snow has become weak. This could make wind slabs easy to trigger in areas where the wind is transporting snow onto soft and weak snow surfaces. Keep an eye out for shooting cracks or hollow feeling snow on the surface to identify areas that are being wind loaded. 

    Ice climbers in Portage should be aware of the potential for natural avalanches triggered by wind loading at upper elevations to impact runout zones at lower elevations. Even small avalanches releasing from high above can be a hazard in steep terrain if they pick up more snow as they run downslope.

    Snowfall is expected to start this afternoon with 1-2" possible in Girdwood and Turnagain Pass and up to 6" near the coast. This new snow shouldn't impact avalanche conditions much today due to the timing and small amount of snow. 

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide cracks are still causing large and destructive avalanches in Turangain Pass and open cracks exist on the majority of the common skiing locations that are accessible in early season conditions. Glide avalanches are unpredictable and can release at any time, so we recommend trying to avoid spending time underneath them as much as possible.

    Most recently, glide avalanches were observed on the SW aspect of Lipps and an E aspect in Lynx Creek. The exact date of when these avalanches released is unknown but they serve as a reminder that we need to keep our guard up and pay close attention to the location of new and existing glide cracks throughout Turnagain Pass.

    (11/29/2024)

    Three glide avalanches on the Lipps common uptrack. 

    Photo: John Sykes

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