Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Our main concern today is triggering a slab avalanche where weak, sugary snow is buried 1 to 2’ deep on steep, wind loaded slopes. Look for soft snow sheltered from the wind if you want to avoid this avalanche problem. 

Glide avalanches are also a concern in Summit Lake. Minimize time spent under them or avoid them altogether as they can release randomly and be large and dangerous.

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide avalanches are still occuring in Summit Lake. The safest option is to avoid spending time under large, brown, glide cracks. If you choose to, travel one at a time and move quickly past them.

    There are less reported glide cracks in Summit Lake but they are still opening up and releasing as big, scary avalanches. These cracks can avalanche at any time and run to the bottom of valleys so look for these "brown" cracks on slopes above you as you travel today. It will be helpful to look at photos from previous forecasts and observations to find where these cracks are located, however, new ones are occurring all the time so keep your head up in the mountains. 

    (11/29/2024)

    New glide crack on the south aspect of North Wilson Peak.

    Photo: John Sykes

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    There is a chance of triggering a slab avalanche 1 to 2’ deep on a buried layer of weak, faceted snow. This problem can be found on steep, wind loaded slopes. The safest option would be to avoid stiff snow and look for softer snow sheltered from the wind.

    As time passes and with no drastic changes in the weather, this problem is likely becoming harder to trigger. You can learn more about the Summit Lake snowpack here.  The point is that although we are not seeing or hearing of natural or human triggered avalanches there are still the ingredients (slab over weak layer) for an avalanche in Summit Lake. 

    Softer snow sheltered from the wind will be safer to rider than stiff snow on wind loaded slopes. Looking for shooting cracks and hearing whumpfing sounds are both red flags indicating a heads up situation to re-evaluate your plan. When in doubt avoid the snow that is stout. 

Regions covered