News

Forecaster Chat at the Girdwood Brewing Co. Jan. 8!

Join us for a discussion on current avalanche conditions, the patterns that got us to our current situation, and what we're looking at in the days and weeks to come. CNFAC Lead Forecaster Andrew Schauer will run through a quick season history and do his best to guess where we are headed. Come on down to Girdwood for a beverage and an evening full of pictures of avalanches and wild speculation. Location: Girdwood Brewing Co., 2700 Alyeska Hwy, Girdwood, AK 99587...

Attention Map Nerds — Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) Tutorial

The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) map is now live under the RESOURCES tab at chugachavalanche.org. You can also check out this quick five‑minute overview and tutorial from CNFAC forecaster John Sykes. This map is a fantastic one‑stop resource for everything from trip planning to submitting observations to the avalanche center. The ATES layer is also available in the OnX mobile mapping app, and includes many common parking areas and place names for Turnagain Pass, Summit Lake and Chugach State...

Remembering Wendy Wagner

Our Director Wendy Wagner passed away in her sleep earlier this week after fighting ovarian cancer for the last year and a half. She spent her last few weeks surrounded by family and friends. It is hard to put into words what she meant to our team, the Alaska snow community, and the national avalanche community. But we’ll try. Wendy was a mentor, a leader, and a close friend to many. Accomplished, humble and genuinely caring, people were always her...

November 7th13th Annual Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop

Join us Friday, November 7th at the Hilltop Ski Area Chalet for the 13th Annual Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop! The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center, Alaska Avalanche School, Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center, and the American Avalanche Association are excited to once again host a gathering of snow professionals for a day of learning, presentation, discussion, and networking. Head to akavalancheworkshop.org for more event information, including the event schedule and list of speakers/ presenters. NEW LOCATION! This year’s event will be held in the chalet at Hilltop Ski...

October 16, 2025 for the Annual MSP Ski Film – After the Snowfall

Join us for the latest film from Matchstick Productions at the West Anchorage High School Auditorium in Anchorage, AK! This is a fundraiser for the Alaska Avalanche School and the Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center and presented by Rossignol, Team Gimp Squad, and the West High Activities Office. “After The Snowfall” is a celebration of skiing in its purest form, chronicling the world’s best athletes and everyday skiers as they chase snow, risk it all, and find joy in...