Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There is a chance of triggering an avalanche around 1’ deep on a layer of weak, faceted snow. These will be limited to isolated pockets, where the weak snow did not get blown away before last weekend's storm. We are seeing this layer more widespread in Girdwood Valley and south end of Turnagain Pass which will increase your chances of running into this problem. Keep an eye out for dry loose slides that could entrain a lot of snow and wind slab avalanches on wind loaded slopes. You can reduce your exposure to all of these risks by sticking to lower angle terrain or exposing one person at a time on slopes above 30 degrees. 

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Join CNFAC for the annual Turnagain Pass Avalanche Awareness Day TOMORROW, March 14, from 12–4 PM at the motorized lot. In addition to free burgers and hot dogs, you can run rescue drills, chat with forecasters, and demo sleds with AMDS, Anchorage Yamaha/ Polaris. Meet the forecasters and partners from the Alaska Avalanche School, Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs. Come refresh your skills, talk snowpack, and eat a hot dog or three!

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: Skier triggered avalanches were reported in the last 3 days on Captain Chair, in the Lynx Creek drainage as well as on Notch Mountain in Girdwood.  Last weekend two other avalanches were reported on Notch Mountain. 

    Strong winds that arrived before last weekend's storm seem to have been the main factor in determining where the persistent problem exists. The wind either blew it away or it did not. Unfortunately, this weak layer is preserved and more widespread in southern Turnagain Pass (Lynx Creek) and Notch Mountain/Girdwood Valley. We are seeing more natural and human triggered avlanche activity as well as red flag collapsing and whumpfing. 

    The rest of Turnagain Pass has seen a lot of skiers and snowmachiners recreating in the backcountry with very little avalanche activity. This leads us to believe that the winds blew this layer away in many places before the storm. There is still a chance you could trigger a persistent slab avalanche where this layer exists which we believe is isolated to certain terrain features. It’s nearly impossible to know where this problem is due to its spotty distribution but be on the lookout for red flag feedback such as cracking and collapsing. When in doubt you can always stick to lower angle slopes. Safe travel techniques such as exposing one person at a time in steep terrain and watching your partners from safe spots are also ways to reduce your group's exposure. 

    Dry Loose Avalanches are getting larger on steep slopes. These could get you in trouble if you get carried through trees or into terrain traps where snow can pile up.

    Wind Slab Avalanches up to 1’ deep will likely be harder to trigger at this point but should be worth sussing out. These typically form below ridgelines and convex terrain features. If you are traveling on a wind slab the snow will be harder and you may see shooting cracks. 

    (3/11/2026)

    Multiple natural avalanches in the Big League and Little League area just outside of Girdwood. These likely failed on a layer of facets. 

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