Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Winds are expected to pick up out of the east today, which could cause small wind slab avalanches and the potential for larger avalanches 1-2' deep on buried weak layers in wind loaded areas. Keep an eye out for active wind loading, recent avalanches, or shooting cracks to identify suspect areas. Glide avalanches also continue to be an issue in Summit Lake and we recommend minimizing the amount of time you spend traveling underneath glide cracks. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    East winds are expected to pick up to 10-20 mph at ridgetops today, which could bring a fresh round of loading on top of existing weak layers in the Summit Lake snowpack. The biggest concern is the potential for wind transported snow to form fresh slabs on top of existing weak layers which could cause natural or human triggered avalanches 1-2' deep. You can avoid this problem by sticking to wind sheltered areas and avoiding traveling underneath steep slopes that are being actively wind loaded. Signs of unstable slopes include recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapsing or whumphing in the snowpack. If you encounter any of these signs we recommend sticking to lower angle terrain. 

    Snowfall is expected to start this afternoon but less than 1" is expected in Summit Lake area which will have minimal impact on the avalanche conditions.

    (11/29/2024) Wind loaded snow on top of a weak layer that failed in a snow pit test earlier this week. Photo: John Sykes

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide cracks are still causing large and destructive avalanches in Summit Lake and open cracks exist in many locations throughout the forecast area. Glide avalanches are unpredictable and can release at any time, so we recommend trying to avoid spending time underneath them as much as possible. 

    (11/25/2024)

    Massive gaping glide crack with two recent releases on Wilson South. 

    Photo: Andrew Schauer

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