Summit Lake

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  2–3

  Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today. Overnight, strong east winds and around 2”+ of water (15”+ of snow) have increased the chance for a human to trigger a large avalanche 1 to 4’ deep on a layer of buried weak snow. This is the largests storm of the season for Summit Lake. This new snow will add a lot of stress to these buried weak layers. It is likely that there were natural avalanches that failed on a weak layer during this storm and they may release naturaly today. 

  This is the day to move slowly and intentionally in the backcountry. Assess conditions carefully, looking for recent avalanche activity, shooting cracks and whumphfing sounds underneath you. With this type of problem, clues may not exist and the consequences could be severe. The safest option is to choose lower angle slopes. 

  Storm totals since the beginning of the storm - all snowfall guesses are above 2000':

  • Girdwood: 3.5-4" water (40+" snow). 
  • Turnagain Pass: 3+" water (~36" snow).                                                            
  • Summit Lake: 1.5-2" water (15-20" snow).                                    
  • Seward/Lost Lake: 3 to 4"" water (35 to 45" snow). 

  

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  It will be likely for a human to trigger a large avalanche 2 to 3’ deep in the storm snow above 2,000'. These slabs may be deeper where snow has been blown into wind slabs 3 to 4’ deep (more about this below). All this snow has fallen on weak snow that was on the surface before this storm. We are not sure how easy it will be to trigger an avalanche on this layer which is a big question mark. 

  Assess conditions carefully, looking for recent avalanche activity, and shooting cracks underneath you. Test small slopes as you travel. Missing a clue or making a mistake could have severe consequences. Expose one person at a time to the slope you choose to ride and use safe zones. The safest option today is to avoid steep slopes. 

  Cornice Fall: Huge cornices have likely formed after this storm and may fall off ridges, triggering a large avalanche above you. They are probably near their breaking point so try to avoid traveling under slopes where they have formed.