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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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 remains a small chance a person can trigger an avalanche in the alpine on a layer of weak, faceted snow buried 2 to 4' deep. You are much more likely to encounter fast-moving dry loose avalanches in steep terrain, as well as isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow from Tuesday's storm that may remain reactive today. These new-snow avalanches should be relatively small, but will be important to pay attention to in any consequential terrain.

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Join us TONIGHT for the annual Snowball fundraiser! This event is a collaboration with the Alaska Avalanche School and is always a fun way to support two nonprofit organizations that provide avalanche information and education in our area. Silent auction, beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and music by Hope Social Club! Tickets and event info at alaskaavalanche.org

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: No recent avalanches have been reported in the Summit Lake area since last week's warm and wet storm.

    With another day of relatively quiet weather on tap, the biggest avalanche concern is the lingering potential to trigger a very large avalanche failing up to 2 to 4' deep on a layer of weak, faceted snow. This layer has been gaining strength, but is still showing occasional signs of concern in snowpits. The most likely place to trigger an avalanche on this layer will be a relatively thin spot where the weight of a person is able to impact the layer. This is going to be most likely in the 2500' to 3000' elevation band.

    Persistent weak layers will not always give clear warning signs when conditions are dangerous. For now, the best way to manage the problem is to avoid traveling in high-consequence terrain. This includes slopes with terrain traps (cliffs, trees, rocks, gullies), as well as slopes with large, connected start zones that could produce a very large avalanche.

    Dry Loose Avalanches are running fast on the previous firm surfaces buried by Tuesday's storm and will be easy to trigger in steep terrain. They may also begin to occur naturally on steep southerly aspects now that we are seeing a little bit more solar input. Keep an eye on those steep south-facing slopes, especially those with rocks or trees, which will heat up the quickest. These could also be triggered by chunks of falling cornices, which may be more likely as the sun heats them through the day.

    Wind Slabs: There may still be isolated pockets of windblown snow that could produce a small avalanche today. These will most likely exist at upper elevations near ridgelines, convex rolls, and loaded gullies. They have had over 24 hours to settle out and should be stubborn, but following the strong winds from the middle of the week, these will be one more thing to assess as you travel.

     

    (2/9/2026)

    Poor structure on Tenderfoot Ridge prior to the most recent storm, with weak snow in the bottom half of the snowpack.

    Photo: Mik Dalpes

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