Bollettino valanghe

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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In sintesi

 Multiple layers of buried surface hoar in the top 3' of the snowpack is still concerning, particularly in areas above treeline but as temperatures begin to drop today, the snowpack will start cooling and promote better stability at and below (~2,500') treeline elevations.  If venturing into the alpine today, choosing terrain with lower slope angles will help mitigate the potential of triggering a persistent slab avalanche.  Additionally, the glide cycle continues with new glide avalanches reported in the Girdwood, Turnagain Pass, and Summit Lake areas this week. 

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SPECIAL ANOUNCEMENTS

The CNFAC is now on the AvyApp! This mobile app allows you to get the forecast, weather, and observations from an easy to use platform. Some of the best features include offline forecast caching, which allows you reference the forecast from anywhere and submit observations while out of connectivity.  Once you return to cell service, your obs/ photos will automatically upload! It's FREE, check it out and download it here.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    2–2.5

    Recent Avalanches: A week ago today we had a significant natural avalanche cycle in the Turnagain Pass (Seattle ridge) area following the Thanksgiving day storm.  Additionally we saw human-triggered avalanches on Sunburst and the Tincan trees.  Several new glide avalanches have been reported over the last 2-3 days in Girdwood, Turnagain Pass, and Summit Lake. 

    Three layers of buried surface hoar continue to plague the snowpack in our region.  Persistent weak layers are notorious for giving us bad information, or no information before they fail.  The good news is that at and below treeline (< 2,500') in areas we've seen rain this week, incoming cold temps should begin to insulate these weak layers from the weight of a skier or snowmachiner by forming a surface crust.  Expect the surface to begin freezing today below ~ 2,500'.  Unfortunately this is going to make for dismal surface conditions as cold temps funnel into the forecast area.

    There is still dry snow to be found in the alpine (> 2,500'), but this is where skiers and riders are more likely to trigger a persistent slab avalanche 2-3' deep.  Places like Pastoral and the Seattle Creek headwall that have been mostly un-tested this winter have the potential to see human-triggered persistent slab avalanches today.  If you make it to the alpine, recognize there is some uncertainty with how touchy conditions may be as there simply hasn't been a lot of traffic this week.    Practice safe travel habits, dial back slope angles, and avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, and glide cracks.

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    2–3

    Another day, another report of glide avalanches.  This one was caught in motion on Tri tip, in the Summit Lake zone.  Over the past 48 hrs, we've had reports of glide avalanche failing in the Girdwood Valley, Turnagain Pass, and Summit Lake areas.  These are large, full depth, destructive avalanches that are impossible to predict when they release.  In many of our zones, it's hard to avoid glide cracks right now.  Minimize time spent underneath these brown frowns and keep an eye out for even small surface cracks or surface innundations.  We've had several instances over the past few weeks of glide avalanches failing with minimal or no obvious surface clues.  

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