Turnagain Pass
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Triggering a large avalanche breaking on buried weak layer 1-3′ deep in the snowpack remains possible today. Watch out for sluffing in steep terrain. Choose slopes carefully with the consequences of an avalanche in mind. Use good travel protocol, give cornices a wide berth and limit time under glide cracks.
If you are heading to Hatcher Pass today please check hpavalanche.org. The Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center and the Hatcher Pass Snow Riders Club are hosting a free avalanche workshop next Saturday at 11 am at the Mint parking lot. Check out our events page for more information.
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Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Heads up if traveling in Summit Lake just south of Turnagain Pass. We received a report of a large human triggered avalanche on Fresno Peak in Summit Lake yesterday. We are currently gathering more information about it. Observers on Friday found the Solstice layer of buried surface hoar on Colorado Peak just south of Fresno.
Friday three avalanches were triggered in Main Bowl. All are suspected to have failed on the Solstice buried surface hoar layer. The avalanche pictured below was large enough to injure/bury a person.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
Although many people are skiing and riding steep terrain without incident, the possibility of triggering a large avalanche remains due to buried weak layer. Surface hoar and faceted snow that formed just before the Solstice is now buried 1-3′ deep and has proven reactive in the 3 snowmachine triggered avalanches in Main Bowl Friday and in some snow pits across the region. This is also the suspected weak layer in the reported human triggered avalanche in Summit Lake yesterday. This is out of the advisory area but is a popular spot to recreate and the snowpack is generally shallower. Conditions often can be very similar in Lynx Creek and around the Silvertip, Twin Peaks zone. This lingering possibility of triggering a large avalanche should be part of how you plan your day in the mountains. Ease into steeper terrain, think about slopes as avalanche paths and imagine where the snow would end up if it did slide. The consequences of being deeply buried in a terrain trap should be a consideration. There is a supportable crust from the New Years Day rain up to 2300′-2500′. Triggering an avalanche is possible where the crust is very thin and then up in elevation from there. There is very stiff snow (slab) over the buried weak layer and that is covered by the soft snow from New Years. Signs of instability will mostly likely not be present at this point and it might not be the first person on the slope that triggers the avalanche. There were previous tracks on the slope in two of the Main Bowl avalanches Friday.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
Low density surface snow in steep terrain has the potential to be a loose snow avalanche a.k.a sluff. It’s important to think about sluff management as you choose your descent. Be mindful of consequences if you were to get knocked off your feet by a fast moving sluff in steep terrain.
Glide cracks: Glide cracks continue to open with the cold temperatures which is another interesting factor with this unpredictable hazard. Limit time spent underneath glide cracks as they could release into a dangerous glide avalanche at any time.
Cornices: Cornices can break farther back than expected. Avoid travel on them and limit your exposure when passing beneath.
Yesterday: Skies were partly cloudy with some patchy valley fog. Temperatures were in the single digits to below 0°F. Winds were light and variable. Overnight temperatures were generally below zero with a few stations dropping to the negative teens.
Today: Mostly sunny which some scattered clouds and patchy valley fog. Temperatures will be in the single digits. Winds will kick up slightly from the north, averaging 5-10 mph gusting into the teens. Overnight skies will be partly cloudy and temperatures will rise a few degrees as the clouds move in.
Tomorrow: Mostly to partly cloudy skies and a chance of scattered showers. Highs will be in the teens and upper single digits and winds will be northerly. Mostly sunny skies are back on tap for Tuesday and Wednesday.
PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Center Ridge (1880′) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | -7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sunburst (3812′) | 2 | W | 4 | 17 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 0 | N | 2 | 12 |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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