Fri, February 21, 2014 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Fri, February 21st, 2014

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Moderate (2)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Moderate (2)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Moderate (2)

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

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Avalanche Problem 1

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

More info at Avalanche.org

A layer of weak snow sitting between the January crust and the February snow has the potential to cause problems today. While this layer has become less reactive over the last week, it is still not trustworthy. The nature of a persistent weak layer is that it sticks around for a long time. Unlike storm related instabilities, a layer like this does not heal quickly. Rather, it lurks below the surface, waiting for the right trigger.

Areas where you would be most likely to activate this weak layer today are on slopes greater than 35 degrees, steep rollovers, and previously wind loaded pockets. Sunshine and excellent riding conditions have the potential to lure people onto bigger and steeper terrain. Don’t let a lack of activity on lower angle slopes allow you to let your guard down. It is much easier to manage this problem with conservative terrain choices than trying to outsmart this complex instability.

Avalanche Problem 2

Dry Loose

Dry Loose

Dry Loose avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

More info at Avalanche.org

On steep sunlit aspects loose snow avalanches will be easy to trigger today. Expect these to be relatively low volume. Managing this problem requires awareness of snow moving around you and the ability to get out of its way. Loose snow sluffs have the potential to knock over skiers and snowboarders (less of an issue for snowachiners). This issue becomes more serious when terrain traps (e.g. trees, gullies, cliff bands) are below.

Weather

Fri, February 21st, 2014

In the past 24 hours no new precipitation has fallen. Ridgetop winds have been light out of a variety of directions averaging 5mph with a max gust of 21mph. Temperatures at 3,800′ have averaged 9 degrees F.

Today expect mostly clear skies in the morning with clouds developing throughout the day. Temperatures will climb into the low 20s F at 1,000 feet. Ridgetop winds will be out of the Southeast at 15 mph.

A strengthening area of high pressure to the East and North of us is keeping several Low pressure systems at bay, limiting the chance for precipitation over the next several days.

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
05/22/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Tincan	Nick D'Alessio
05/12/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Tincan, Sunburst, Magnum, Cornbiscuit	Heather Thamm
05/07/23	Turnagain	Observation: Tincan – Bear Tracks	CNFAIC Staff
05/05/23	Turnagain	Observation: Seattle Ridge	AS/ WW Forecaster
05/02/23	Turnagain	Observation: Cornbiscuit	Schauer/ Sturgess Forecaster
05/02/23	Turnagain	Observation: Seward Hwy Turnagain Pass	Joel Curtis
04/30/23	Turnagain	Observation: Magnum	Ayla, Kit Crosby, Barton
04/29/23	Turnagain	Observation: Tincan	John Sykes
04/28/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Taylor Pass/Pastoral	Schauer/ Creighton Forecaster
04/28/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Tincan	Andy Moderow

Riding Areas

Updated Thu, June 01st, 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	Closed	Closed May 15.
Placer River	Closed	Closed May 15.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Will close to motorized use on April 1, 2023 per the National Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Will close on June 1.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Extended opening until May 15.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.