Summit Lake

Avalanche problems

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • 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 last Sunday, when a snowboarder triggered a small avalanche on a steep wind loaded slope, which failed on a layer of small facets. Several human-triggered and remote triggered avalanche were observed in Turnagain Pass on Wednesday.  More info on those in today's forecast for the Turnagain Pass zone.

  There have been several human-triggered avalanches in the Summit Lake and Turnagain Pass zones since the last round of snow finished. The flurry of recent avalanches has resulted in two people getting caught and carried that we know of, with no reported burials or injuries. These avalanches have been failing on a weak layer of faceted snow that developed during the December dry spell. That weak layer is expected to remain reactive today, even though the weather is going to be fairly quiet.

  Very few of these avalanches have been big enough to bury a person, but they are clearly big enough to carry a person. This will change as soon as we get more snow, but for now, this problem may be managed by careful terrain management. If you are getting into steep terrain, it will be important to avoid higher-consequence slopes. This can mean longer, steep features where you would fall a long distance if you were to get caught. Smaller terrain can also have serious consequences if there are features like cliffs, rocks, trees, gullies, or an open glide crack in the path.

  The current avalanche problem exists on most slopes, so if you plan on accessing steep terrain, it will be important to do so one at a time, watching partners from safe spots outside of avalanche runout zones. 

  Dry Loose Avalanches: Any loose snow on the surface will easily produce dry loose avalanches (sluffs). While unlikely to bury a person, these can be dangerous if they carry you into any of the terrain traps mentioned above. You can manage the problem by either avoiding steep slopes, letting your sluff run ahead of you before fully committing to the slope, or moving across the fall line so you don't get caught in a running sluff as it entrains more snow and gains momentum.