Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Although the snowpack has strengthened over two weeks of calm weather, a person could still trigger a large avalanche at any elevation. If skies remain sunny, there is also a chance the slopes facing the sun could warm up enough to produce small natural Wet Loose avalanches. Maintain safe travel protocols, like traveling one at a time in steep terrain, and choose slopes that are clear of obstacles and fan out at the bottom to increase your chances of a positive outcome if you get surprised.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Researchers Ian McCammon and Sara Boilen are developing new tools for managing human factors for backcountry skiers and boarders. This survey asks about personal experiences with human factors and will take 7-8 minutes to complete. Link is HERE. Thank you for your help!

Crow Creek Road is impassable just below the neighborhood due to overflow. Skiers’ stuck vehicles have created tension for locals who need the road for work and school runs. Please choose a different spot to recreate, or park further down the road and skin up past the overflow. Thanks for helping to keep access clear!

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: One week ago, last Friday, there was an avalanche fatality outside and northeast of our forecast zone near Lake George. There was some small wet loose activity on southerly slopes around 2,000' on Center Ridge on Monday. Two weeks ago, there were many natural and human-triggered avalanches 1-2' deep that occurred in the few days following the most recent storm. One of these buried and injured a person on Max's Mountain in Girdwood on March 21st.

    After 2 weeks of calm weather, it has become unlikely that a person could trigger a large avalanche in this zone. Unfortunately, we still have the recipe for a large avalanche, with a slab that is 1 to 2' deep sitting on top of very weak snow that has adjusted to the weight in most places for now. It is hard to trust this type of weak snow (facets) despite the amount of time that has passed since a person has triggered an avalanche on one of these layers. This problem can be completely avoided by choosing low angle slopes or you can choose terrain that is clear of rocks, trees and gullies at the bottom to reduce the chance of serious consequences if the slope slides.

    Dry Loose Snow Avalanches:  Dry Loose avalanches are likely to be triggered by a person on any steep slope that is holding cold snow. Consider what is below if you get caught up in the sluff.

    (3/31/2026)

    This snowpit is from Fish's Breath on March 31 at 2,100' showing poor structure with weak snow below a slab. Test results were stable.

    Photo submitted anonymously

  • Loose Wet

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

    It looks like temperatures should be similar today to what they were yesterday. We didn't hear of any wet snow avalanche activity yesterday, but the day before there were a few small Wet Loose avalanches triggered naturally on south facing slopes around noon at about 2,000'. It could be anytime now that the sun and temperatures are just warm enough to tip the scale and trigger more widespread natural Wet Loose avalanches. These typically occur near rocks at first and can be preceded by roller balls. This type of avalanche may be especially likely below 2,500' on steep southerly facing slopes where temperatures are a bit warmer than the ridgelines. Initally, these may be small enough to manage, but if you are sinking up to your shin in wet snow it's time to find a colder aspect. 

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