Seward and Lost Lake

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1–2

  Recent Avalanches: There was a human triggered avalanche on Monday outside of Seward on Resurrection Peak. They were caught but managed to escape the debris which ran almost 4,500’ to the valley bottom. 

  We don’t have much information about how the snowpack is responding to the storm that delivered 6 to 12” above 2,500’ around Seward earlier this week. We suspect that it will be easier to trigger an avalanche in the Coastal Mountains and Exit Glacier where up to 12” of storm snow fell on a layer of weak snow. This is a similar setup to Portage and Placer Valley where avalanche activity has been increasing over the past 2 days. Lost Lake received 3 to 6” from the storm so it will be more likely to trigger an avalanche in the form of a wind slab around 1’ deep in upper elevations on wind loaded slopes.  Clouds may arrive later in the day accompained by a trace amount of snow and light winds as a weak front moves through the area which should not change the avalanche danger. 

  If you plan to get out in Seward, take some time to evaluate how easy the new snow could slide on test slopes and be aware that snow tests may be unreliable with this type of problem. In Lost Lake, look for wind slabs which typically form along ridgelines and convex terrain features. You are probably traveling on one of these if the snow feels firm or you see shooting cracks beneath you. Safe travel practices such as exposing one person at a time in avalanche terrain will increase your margin of safety today.

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Likely

  Taille

  1–2

  Temperatures look to warm up in the afternoon which will increase the chance of wet avalanches. Clouds are expected to increase through the day which could shade sunny slopes or trap heat from the sun. Regardless, if the air starts to feel hot and the snow becomes wet and heavy your best bet is to head to shadier slopes (north aspects). These have the potential to gain momentum and carry a lot of snow and you into trees or terrain traps.  

  We are close to the time where warm temperatures and a saturated snowpack will begin to release wet slab avalanches. This problem is also more likely in the afternoon and can be managed by moving to shadier slopes or staying in upper elevations where it is colder.