Avalanche forecast

Lutak

Haines Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Strong south winds yesterday have caused wind loading above treeline and increased danger on wind loaded slopes. Evaluate terrain carefully near steep, loaded aspects, gullies, and ridgelines. Human-triggered avalanches remain possible. Avoid terrain traps where even a small slide can bury a person. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Above tree-line, strong south winds yesterday have loaded leeward northerly slopes. Today switching winds from the north could reverse or cross load slopes with isolated fresh wind slabs, especially in gullies and start zones. Be observant of terrain features and their characteristics. You may be drawn into windloaded slopes in search of deeper snow, but carefully evaluate slopes greater than 30 degrees. Look for signs of wind loading including fatter pockets of snow,  stiff snow that sounds hollow and shooting cracks. 

    Photo: Sawtooth Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

There's been ample snow available for transport, and the winds have been sculpting and switching.  The snow surface is wind affected and moderately well bonded.  Snow totals in the alpine on Friday were approximately 5" on Ripinsky, 3-4" at pass, and Flower probably got 4".

Observations from both Lutak and the Pass found brittle slabs in the mid to lower snowpack without much propagation potential. There are  facets near the ground in the Pass, but we are not seeing activity on this layer yet. 

We still have a thin early season snowpack with exposed rocks, branches and logs. The alders at the pass tree line are not laid down yet. You don't want to ruin your season with an injury. Let's be patient out there and take it one week at a time. 

Help us make sense of what's going out there by reading and submitting observations.

Regions covered