Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Strong easterly winds are forecast today making natural wind slab avalanches possible and human triggered avalanches likely in the upper elevations. These "pillows" of windblown snow could be 1 to 2' deep and are typically found below ridgelines, on convex rolls, and in cross loaded gullies. Two new glide avalanches were noticed yesterday, which means this problem is still active. Visibility could be limited so keep your eyes out for glide cracks and avoid spending time underneath them if possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong easterly winds today will be creating fresh wind slabs in places that have snow available to be moved around. Yesterday a group remotely triggered a wind slab avalanche from 50' away in Triangle Bowl on the motorized side of Turnagain Pass. No one was caught or carried. The avalanche was estimated to be 1' deep and 150' wide. A remote trigger means avalanche conditions are a bit touchy in places. There are good chances a person could trigger an avalanche just like this today in the upper elevations.

    To steer clear of the wind slab problem watch for blowing snow and avoid places that look like they have a "pillow" or "dune" of snow. Feel for firm snow over softer snow, and a wind slab may sound hollow if you tap on it. A shooting crack is a sign of unstable snow. 

    Persistent Slabs: We suspect the weak layer of the human triggered avalanche in Triangle Bowl yesterday was surface hoar. We don't think this problem is widespread, but exists in pockets throughout the Turnagain zone. Buried surface hoar can make triggering a wind slab easier, which could explain why this avalanche was triggered from 50' away.  Surface hoar was also responsible for a whumpf at 3,900' in Goldpan on Saturday. Check out that observation here. 

    (12/18/2024)

    This wind slab avalanche was triggered remotely yesterday by a group in Triangle Bowl. Estimated size is 1' deep, 150' wide, D2, and triggered from 50' away on the ridge. No one was caught or carried. Thanks to this group for sharing.

    Photo: Barney Griffith

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Two new glide avalanches were observed yesterday. One was near Main Bowl on the motorized side and one was on Twin Peaks. It's possible they are a day or two old. We are going to continue to recommend the avoidance strategy with the glide cracks that haven't released yet. Try not to spend any time underneath them if possible. There's also the danger of falling into one of these cracks since they are difficult to see with flat light and a bit of new snow on top.

    (12/18/2024)

    Fresh glide avalanche near the saddle between Main Bowl and Jr's.

    Photo: Andrew Schauer

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