Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The main concern is triggering an avalanche on a weak layer of snow buried up to 1 to 2' deep. People triggered multiple avalanches on this layer earlier this week in Turnagain Pass, and similar conditions exist in Summit Lake. Many of these were triggered remotely from low-angle terrain connected to steeper slopes. Most of these have not been big enough to bury a person, but they could have serious consequences if they were to carry you through terrain traps like rocks, trees, cliffs, or into gullies or depressions that would collect more debris.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the East Turnagain Arm, Turnagain Pass, and the Kenai Peninsula.

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Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent avalanches: The most recent reported avalanche in the Summit Lake area was on Tenderfoot Ridge almost a week ago. A snowboarder triggered a small avalanche on a steep wind loaded slope, which failed on a layer of small facets. Several human-triggered avalanches were observed in Turnagain Pass on Wednesday; many of which were triggered remotely. 

    We're now five days out from our last snowfall, but northerly winds have been at work moving snow above treeline in the Summit Lake zone. There is still a good chance that a person will be able to trigger an avalanche on a layer of weak, faceted snow. This developed during our December drought and is now buried around 6-10" deep on average, but up to 2' deep in some wind-loaded terrain. Multiple human-triggered avalanches failed on this layer earlier in the week in Turnagain Pass, and we expect a person could still trigger a similar avalanche today.

    From what we have seen so far, these avalanches are unlikely to be large enough to bury a person. But they can still have severe consequences on slopes with terrain traps in avalanche paths. This includes features like cliffs, trees, or rocks, which can cause severe trauma if you are carried through them. Or it could involve gullies, creeks, or open glide cracks, which could collect debris from a relatively small avalanche and bury a person.

    You can avoid this problem entirely by sticking to low-angle terrain. If this is your strategy, be aware of the potential to trigger an avalanche on this layer remotely, from low-angle terrain connected to steeper slopes overhead. If you choose to travel in steeper terrain, it will be important to identify and avoid slopes with those terrain traps discussed above. 

    Dry Loose Avalanches: There is plenty of loose snow on the surface, which will easily produce dry loose avalanches (sluffs). Similar to our persistent slab problem, these are unlikely to bury a person but could have bigger consequences if you get caught and carried.

     

    (1/1/2026) 

    Chains of facets found below a crust on Summit Peak. This is an example of a very developed weak layer.

    Photo shared anonymously.

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