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

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today after yesterdays storm brought 1' of new snow or more to the Turnagain Pass Zone accompanied by strong easterly wind. It should be easy for a person to trigger an avalanche up to 3' deep in new and windblown snow above 1,000'. There is a smaller chance a person could trigger a much larger and more dangerous avalanche above 2,500' on weak snow buried up to 6' deep. We don't know exactly how sensitive either of these problems will be today, so the safest option is to give the snowpack time to adjust to the new load. Enjoy the soft new snow on low angle slopes without anything steep above.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We’re excited to announce the annual Turnagain Pass Avalanche Awareness Day on Saturday, March 14! We will be up in the Turnagain Pass motorized lot from noon until 4 pm, along with AMDS, Anchorage Yamaha and Polaris, Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol, Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs, and the Alaska Avalanche School. Stop by to demo a snowmachine, run through some avalanche rescue drills, or just grab a free burger or hot dog and chat with CNFAC forecasters about current avalanche conditions.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1.5–2.5

    With just under 1' of new snow falling on the weather stations there could be quite a bit more than that in the alpine that was blown around with strong easterly wind. With this new snow falling on a variety of old snow surfaces including crusts and facets, and new and old wind slabs on all aspects, it is difficult to say how sensitive the avalanche conditions will be today. The storm wrapped up around sunset yesterday and it's best to give the snow at least 24 hours to stabilize before approaching slopes above 30°. 

    Strong southerly wind is forecast briefly this morning, which could quickly build a fresh batch of wind slabs that would add to the complicated nature of today's avalanche picture. Clear signs of instability include recent avalanches, shooting cracks and hearing a whumpf. These are all signs that conditions are prime for a person to trigger an avalanche and the snow needs more time to stabilize.

     

    (3/6/2026)

    Heavy snowfall in Portage yesterday around 3pm.

    Photo: AK DOT RWIS camera

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    This storm added a large amount of weight, especially in the alpine, where there was higher snowfall and strong wind. This is where the deep slab problem exists. Although the chances are low, it is not out of the question a person could trigger a very large avalanche up to 6' deep or more on the weak snow that developed in December. There are much higher chances a person could trigger a smaller avalanche in the new and windblown snow described above. The weight of an avalanche failing within the new snow may be enough to trigger the December facets and it would be incredibly difficult to survive being caught in this type of avalanche. 

     

    (3/6/2026)

    An APU snow science class conducts an extra long Propogation Saw Test at 2,300' on Tincan. This requires a tremendous amount of digging. The result was stable in this location PST174/230 END. 

    Photo: Eeva Latosuo

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