Bollettino valanghe

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

It will be easy to trigger a large avalanche 1 to 4’ deep on several buried layers of surface hoar. Multiple large avalanches were reported yesterday telling us that the snowpack conditions are dangerous. We recommend making conservative decisions because these types of avalanches are very difficult to assess. They can be triggered on slopes with tracks on them and from lower angle slopes. Glide avalanches are releasing above popular uptracks and slopes. These have been large and are running to valley bottoms. The safest option is to avoid traveling under glide cracks. Fresh wind slabs may be forming if winds pick up earlier in the day than expected. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Several large avalanches were seen yesterday on Seattle Ridge (Main Bowl and Jr’s Bowl) as well as one human triggered avalanche on Sunburst and a remote triggered avalanche in the Tincan Trees. This is telling us that the snowpack setup right now is dangerous. 1 to 4’ of snow is sitting over several weak layers of buried surface hoar. The most recent layer that was buried by the Thanksgiving Day storm is likely a widespread problem that was seen from the highway up to at least 3,600’ meaning it could exist on many slopes. With this type of setup there is a good chance of triggering a large avalanche. 

    Unfortunately, this type of problem doesn’t always give obvious clues in the field. It is notorious for allowing several tracks on a slope and then ripping out the whole slope. It can be triggered remotely meaning that you could be traveling on a low angle slope and trigger an avalanche above you. If you want to avoid this problem the safest option is to stick to lower angle slopes with no steep faces above you. If you do decide to travel into avalanche terrain, be aware that areas that seem “safer" may be more dangerous than they usually are, and that there may be no warning signs that an instability is present. Also use safe travel techniques such as using safe zones and exposing one person at a time on a slope. 

    (11/28/2025)

    Avalanche on the Widowmaker face in the foreground, and below the Seattle Ridge weather station in the background.

  • Glide Cracks

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

    We are becoming increasingly concerned about the large amount of glide avalanche activity this season. They are releasing nearly every day and have taken out popular backcountry routes including the Seattle Ridge uptrack and slopes on Sunburst. We are also noticing that instead of cracks lingering for weeks they are opening and releasing at a much faster rate. These have the potential to be destructive and travel to valley bottoms where we generally feel safe. The best option is to avoid traveling under them. If you must travel under them try to move quickly and expose one person at a time.

    (11/24/2025)

    Large glide avalanches releasing on Seattle Ridge. 

    Photo: Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    There is a chance of triggering a wind slab avalanche around 3’ deep or deeper from strong winds during the Thanksgiving Day storm. Today, east winds are supposed to pick up this afternoon from 10 to 30 mph with 40 to 50mph gusts which will form a new batch of wind slabs. These could be forming earlier in the day if the winds arrive sooner than expected.

    Wind slabs can be found below ridgelines and convex rollover terrain features. The snow may feel harder and sound hollow. Keep an eye out for blowing snow and shooting cracks. Consider riding slopes sheltered from the wind that have soft snow if you want to avoid this problem.

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