Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

The biggest concern is triggering a large avalanche above 2,500’. The safest option is to give the snowpack more time to gain strength and avoid steep slopes at upper elevations. Glide cracks are opening up so look and avoid traveling under them whenever possible. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Avalanche Rescue Workshop at Glen Alps has been POSTPONED to Sunday, February 9th.  The workshop is free and all experience levels are welcome. Click HERE for more information.

It's not too late to catch us on our brewery tour this week. The Girdwood Brewery is hosting us tomorrow for a conversation about the world of snow and avalanches:

  • Forecaster Chat - Thursday, February 6th, 6-7:30 p.m. at Girdwood Brewing Co. in Girdwood. Andrew Schauer will discuss recent CNFAC research and highlight ways it can help your backcountry game. Details HERE.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    The biggest concern is triggering a large avalanche on a buried weak layer of facets near the bottom of the snowpack. These types of problems can “persist” for a long time because buried weak layers in this situation tend to gain strength slowly. It is hard to predict when these layers will be strong enough to be less concerning. The likelihood is pretty low but the consequences can be severe. Winds have exposed rocks on ridgelines at upper elevations which are clues the snowpack is thin. These are the most likely places to trigger a large avalanche. The safest option is to enjoy powder laps in the trees or head to Turnagain Pass if you want to get on steeper slopes. 

    Wind Slab Avalanches: Lingering wind slabs will likely be small and harder to trigger today. Occasional gusts were recorded around 30 mph overnight that should be decreasing during the day. Look for blowing snow actively loading slopes if you are getting an early start this morning. Terrain features with hollow sounding snow and shooting cracks are clues you have found a wind slab.

    Glide Avalanches: Glide cracks are showing themselves again in Turnagain Pass and in Summit Lake with the most recent glide avalanche occurring on February 4 south of Turnagain Pass. Try to avoid spending time under them or consider another objective where this hazard does not exist. 

    Cornices: Cornice falls are less likely today but could be a concern if someone wanders on to one. Give them a lot of room when you are traveling on ridges. 

    Recent Avalanches: Glide activity is making a slow comeback with one reported two days ago at the south end of Turnagain Pass and glide cracks spotted in Summit Lake. The inversion over the past few days and sunny weather was responsible for small loose wet avalanches at higher elevations on steep solar slopes. About a week ago there was a human triggered wind slab avalanche in Lynx Creek. 

    (1/29/2025)

    Looking straight across the highway at some older debris piles on Butch.

    Photo: Andrew Schauer

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