Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Lingering wind slabs at upper elevations up to 1' deep will be possible for a skier or rider to trigger today.  There is also a small chance of triggering a very large avalanche on a weak layer buried 4-6' deep. We are uncertain whether the deeply buried weak layer is still an issue. To avoid the possibility of triggering an avalanche on this layer you can always stick to lower angle terrain.  

__________________________________

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Chugach National Forest Motorised Use:  Turnagain Pass and Snug Harbor are the only areas in the Chugach National Forest that received enough snow to open, all other areas remain closed. Low snow cover hazards exist at low elevations, such as open creeks and alders. Seattle Ridge uptrack has been reported to have icy conditions near the top. We have limited information for these zones and recommend extra caution if riding on steeper slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Lingering wind slabs up to 1' deep from the strong east winds yesterday morning are possible for people to trigger today. These are most common along upper elevation ridgelines and convex features. Keep an eye out for shooting cracks or small avalanches on test slopes to identify areas harboring stubborn wind slabs. 

    Cornices have grown very large after the recent snowfall and wind. Give them some extra space when traveling along ridgelines and be aware of the potential for cornice fall to trigger a larger avalanche on the slope below.

    Glide Avalanches seem to be slowing down but are still a concern. We recommend trying to avoid spending time underneath glide cracks and traveling one at a time if you need to traverse under one.  

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2.5–3.5

    The 4-6' of new snow last week fell on top of a weak layer of facets which showed concerning signs of acting like a persistent weak layer during the storm. Now that the layer is buried very deeply it is difficult to assess and we are unsure whether it is still possible to trigger a very large avalanche on this layer. Since the storms ended we have not seen widespread avalanche activity on this layer but we are keeping it on our radar for a while until we feel confident that it is no longer an issue.

    This problem falls into the low likelihood but high consequence category and the only way to avoid it entirely is to stick to lower angle terrain. Deep slab avalanches tend to be triggered from thin spots in the snowpack where it is easier for the weight of a person or sled to reach the weak layer. 

Regions covered