Summit & Central Kenai Mtns

Recent Avalanches: Glide cracks have been opening and causing avalanches throughout the Summit area. These have been seen on Fresno, Manitoba, South Gilpatrick, John Mtn, near Russian Gap, Lonestar, and Roaring Ridge. Possible wind slabs on Tri-Tip were observed on January 10th. Near Russian Gap there also appears to be a natural cycle of avalanches that possibly failed on a weak layer on January 9th. 

Weather Recap: Last weekend in Summit pass, a storm brought around 3” of snow along with strong easterly winds gusting 50-60 mph. Clear skies early in the week became cloudy, with southwest winds gusting in the 40s and no new snow. Temperatures cooled to single digits on Sunday gradually rising to above freezing Thursday night.

Weather Forecast: A storm from the southwest is forecast to bring cloudy skies, strong east winds and a trace of new snow to the Summit Pass area Saturday night into Sunday. Easterly winds gusting 25-40 mph are expected to die down Friday evening, increasing on Saturday afternoon into the evening with sustained speeds of 20-25 and gusts around 30 mph. Winds will decrease on Sunday into Monday. Temperatures will be in the 20s F to low 30s F before decreasing on Sunday afternoon. A high pressure system is moving into the area next week and there is a good chance we will see cold temperatures with outflow winds picking up midweek.

Glide cracks, glide avalanches, and natural avalanches on near Russian gap. 01.09.2024

East winds gusting 30+ mph are expected Friday night into Saturday afternoon, that will likely create fresh wind slabs 1-2’ deep. On some slopes these wind slabs are forming above weaker snow on the surface, making them more reactive and easier to trigger. These avalanches may be big enough to bury or injure a person. Wind slabs can be found on leeward features such as below ridges and rollovers, and in cross loaded gullies. Watch for red flags such as recent avalanches, blowing snow, shooting cracks underneath your machine, skis, and board. Look for these clues as you travel, test small safe slopes, and avoid steep wind load terrain. 

Cornices: Large cornices have been forming on ridges. There have been reports of cornices failing and triggering avalanches. Limit exposure under cornices especially if you see blowing snow on the ridges. Failing cornices may trigger larger avalanches deeper in the snowpack.

Snow blowing off the ridges in the Seward zone will likely be what we see over the weekend. 01.09.2024 

3-6″ fresh wind slab that cracked beneath my splitboard. 01.11.2024

New glide cracks and glide avalanches are being reported on a regular basis all across the Summit Pass area. While they are generally not in places where people have been recreating, these avalanches are large and can send debris to lower angle terrain. It is important to minimize exposure under these glide cracks because they can spontaneously release and be large and dangerous since they fail at the ground and involve the entire snowpack. 

Poor visibility may make it difficult to know if you are under a glide crack. It can also be hard to see old glide cracks when they get buried by fresh or wind deposited snow.  If you are unsure where glide cracks are, choose routes that minimize overhead hazard and pick safe spots carefully, spending as little time as possible under steep terrain. Past observations explain where some glide cracks are and there is also a map that identifies mountains in the Summit area to familiarize yourself with the location of these glide cracks. 

Glide avalanche on Fresno. 1.11.2024  

Large glide crack on Roaring Ridge. 01.10.2024

Although there have been no known avalanches on these weak layers we are keeping our eye on them. In areas where the snowpack is shallower, facets above the Thanksgiving crust and weak facets buried at the ground are failing in snowpit stability tests. Exposed rocks, wind scoured features and probing in the snow are all ways to identify if you are traveling in shallower snow. These layers are not likely to avalanche, but if you want to avoid this problem, enjoy lower angle terrain.