Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

The avalanche danger is generally low. We recommend normal caution for mountain hazards such as glide avalanches, cornices, localized wind slabs in steep terrain, and loose snow avalanches. Using good travel practices like traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain and spotting your partners is always a good idea.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Avalanche Rescue Workshop at Glen Alps has been POSTPONED to Sunday, February 9th.  The workshop is free and all experience levels are welcome. Click HERE for more information.

High pressure continues to dominate the weather pattern and generally low avalanche danger exists. As always, low danger does not mean no danger. Glide avalanches continue to release and cause very large and destructive avalanches. Try to minimize your time underneath glide cracks and use safe travel practices to expose one person at a time. Human triggered wind slab avalanches could still be possible in localized areas of steep terrain that saw recent wind loading. Keep an eye out for hollow feeling pillows of snow or shooting cracks in wind loaded areas to identify slopes that could harbor lingering wind slabs. 

Large cornices exist along many ridgelines which could be a hazard if you are traveling along a ridgeline or directly underneath. Try to stay a little farther back from the ridgeline than seems necessary to avoid a surprise cornice collapse and be aware that cornice crevasses can form along ridgelines as the cornice starts to peel away from the mountain side. 

Both dry and wet loose avalanches are also possible today. Dry loose avalanches could occur on any steep slope with soft snow on the surface and we recommend having a plan to deal with sluff if you are traveling in steep terrain. Wet loose avalanches will be limited to steep south facing terrain and could form sun crusts or release very small natural avalanches.