Turnagain Pass

After nine days of cold and clear weather, snow has returned to the area. Stations are showing .5″- 1″ of snow water equivalent (SWE) overnight, which could translate to over a foot of snow, especially at higher elevations. Another 4-6″ snow is expected during the day, with easterly winds expected to pick up to 25-30 mph, approaching 40 mph at the higher ridgetops. This active weather, combined with a mixed bag of weak, sugary facets on the old snow surface, will combine to make dangerous avalanche conditions. This will be especially true above treeline (~2500′) and close to the Turnagain arm, where winds will be the strongest.

Cautious route finding is the name of the game today, especially in the upper elevations. Wind loaded slopes below ridgelines, convexities, and in gullies will be the most suspect terrain. However, because this new snow is falling on weak surfaces, it will be important to approach all steep terrain with caution. The wind slabs that formed earlier in the week will now be much harder to identify, and since they are sitting on top of weak snow they may still be reactive. As always, be smart with your travel by only putting one person on a slope at a time and watching your partners from safe spots.

New snow and wind slabs will be forming on this poor structure. Cautious route finding will be important today. Snowpit from Raggedtop, 11.22.2021

This round of snow has fallen on weak surfaces, which will make it possible to trigger avalanches on slopes that have been sheltered from the wind. Weather stations are acting up this morning, so it is hard to say exactly how much snow has fallen, but best estimates based on the snow water equivalent (SWE), and by looking at the front yard this morning (see photo below) would put snow totals at a foot or more in some parts of the advisory area. This pulse of moisture will require stepping back from how we have been approaching terrain for the past week, since sheltered slopes will now require a little more attention.

Pay attention to warning signs showing instability as you travel. This will include cracks shooting out from your feet, and fresh avalanches. You might use small test slopes to see how the storm snow is behaving on top of the weak older snow. As mentioned above, play the odds in your favor by only putting one person on a slope at a time, and watch your partners from safe spots.

Dry loose avalanches: All of this low-density snow on top of loose sugar will easily move in steep terrain today. Sheltered slopes will have up to another foot of soft snow below this storm snow, which means sluffs could pick up a large volume of snow. Be aware of dry loose avalanches today, especially in higher consequence terrain above rocks, trees, cliffs, or in gullies.

Impromptu snow stake on our deck in Girdwood this morning. Very low-density snow might not be getting accurate readings at the weather stations… 11.23.2021

We have seen continued glide activity in and around the advisory area. The glide avalanches seem to have slowed down over the past few days, but we still cannot rule them out entirely. Timing of glide releases is impossible to predict, and they are very large and destructive. Be aware of these monsters, and limit the amount of time you spend traveling below glide cracks.