Sat, April 06, 2013 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Sat, April 6th, 2013

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Moderate (2)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Low (1)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Low (1)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Moderate (2)
Treeline 1,000'-2,500'		Low (1)
Below Treeline Below 1,000'		Low (1)

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Avalanche Problem 1

Wind Slabs

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

More info at Avalanche.org

Small slabs will be easy to trigger by the end of our long day today (sunset will be at 9pm tonight). Snowfall will pick up later in the day. Prior to new snow falling it is always a good practice to know what the snow surface is comprised of. Yesterday south facing and low elevation slopes melted during the day and froze overnight. North facing slopes in the upper elevations were holding pockets of small surface hoar. As this “drought layer” gets buried it will need to adjust to the new snow falling onto it. Surface hoar will not allow new snow to bond to it very well. Neither will crusts. If the new snow comes in warm, as it is forecasted to do, bonding will be better. Shallow wind slabs will build by this evening in isolated pockets and are worth avoiding on steep north through west facing aspects.

Avalanche Problem 2

Normal Caution

Normal Caution

Normal Caution means triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible.

More info at Avalanche.org

While the snowpack is stable in many areas, there are a few things to consider today when making decisions.

Loose Snow Avalanches

Yesterday my partner and I found surface hoar on steep high elevation north facing slopes. This surface will prevent new snow from sticking to it well. Because of this, low volume sluffs will run fast and readily in this type of terrain. While the volume will be too low to be a problem on its own, things can change for the worse when these small avalanches occur while you’re above cliffbands, gullies or trees.

Cornices

While today is not a prime day for cornices to come crashing down, it is still worth remaining vigilant in the presence of these large masses of snow. Give them plenty of room when approaching ridgecrests and while travelling below them.

Weather

Sat, April 6th, 2013

In the past 24 hours the Sunburst weather station at 3,812′ reported an average temperature of 20 degrees F. Winds were calm to light, blowing 4 mph out of the SW. No measurable precip has fallen.

Light snow showers have begun this morning. Today expect up to 6″ of new snow. Ridgetop winds will be light out of the SE at 10-15mph. Temperatures at 1,000′ will be in the low 30 F range.

The pattern of clear and sunny weather is over. An unsettled pattern is on tap for the next several days, with precip, cloud cover and cooler temps on its way.

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I will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning, April 7th.

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
02/07/23	Turnagain	Observation: Seattle Ridge	Wagner / Keeler Forecaster
02/07/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Pete’s North	Megan Guinn
02/05/23	Turnagain	Observation: Rookie Hill	Tony Naciuk
01/31/23	Turnagain	Observation: Johnson Pass area	Megan Guinn / W Wagner Forecaster
01/29/23	Turnagain	Observation: Tincan Backdoor	AAS-Level 1 1/27-1/30
01/28/23	Turnagain	Observation: Sunburst	Brooke Edwards
01/28/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Seattle Ridge	W Wagner
01/28/23	Turnagain	Observation: Tincan Common	Tony Naciuk
01/27/23	Turnagain	Observation: Sunburst	John Sykes
01/27/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Lynx Creek	Megan Guinn / W Wagner

Riding Areas

Updated Fri, January 06th, 2023

Status of riding areas across the Chugach NF is managed by the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts, not avalanche center staff. Riding area information is posted as a public service to our users and updated based on snow depth and snow density to prevent resource damage at trailhead locations. Riding area questions contact: mailroom_r10_chugach@fs.fed.us

Area	Status	Weather & Riding Conditions
Glacier District
Johnson Pass	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Placer River	Closed	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow (holiday storms rained away the snow at sea level).
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow (holiday storms rained away the snow at sea level).
Turnagain Pass	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Twentymile	Closed	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow (holiday storms rained away the snow at sea level).
Seward District
Carter Lake	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Lost Lake Trail	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Primrose Trail	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Summit Lake	Open	Opened Dec 13th.