Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

                            SPRINGTIME AVALANCHE TIPS – Timing is everything

Watch for the “shed cycle”. This typically lasts a couple weeks, begins on southerly slopes then moves to both east and west until finishing up on north. Keep an eye on the ridgetop weather stations for multiple days of above freezing overnight temperatures. This can signal a snowpack with limited refreezing and when followed by warm days (either sunny or rainy) can dramatically increase the likelihood of natural and human triggered large avalanches. Careful route planning to say out from under slopes with wet and rotten snow is essential during this period.

• Once the snow has undergone the transition to a summertime pack and is freezing at night and warming during the day (the corn season),hitting the slopes early and getting off them when they become too sloppy is critical.. 

• Mushy snow more than 6″ deep is a sign that it’s time to exit the area. Following the aspects as the sun heats up the slopes over the course of the day, east to south then west, can make for great riding/skiing days ending in sunny tailgateing. 

• Keep in mind, cloud cover ‘holds in the heat’ and can dramatically limit overnight refreezing. A shallow to no refreeze will not only give daytime heating a jump start on weakening the pack, but can produce less than stellar riding conditions.

• Beware for warm storms where rain is falling on snow. Especially when rain is falling on cold dry snow. This can quickly increase the avalanche danger.

• After a new snowfall, watch for the first rays of sun to trigger both slab and loose snow avalanches in the new snow. Often, these initiate just below trees and rocks.

• One of the easiest ways to stay safe in the springtime is knowing what kind of surface you are traveling on and under. Hard frozen snow, that easily supports a person and/or snowmachine, is unlikely to avalanche. Soft and saturated snow, deep enough to leave tracks you would not want to ski through when frozen, is a RED FLAG that the snow is losing its strength and becoming ripe to avalanche.

• Last, don’t forget to plan your route back to the car. Does it take you under slopes that were frozen and safe earlier in the day, but now have been cooking in the sun waiting to slide on your return?