Mon, March 17, 2014 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Mon, March 17th, 2014

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Considerable (3)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Moderate (2)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Moderate (2)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Considerable (3)
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

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

A modest amount of new snow overnight and continuing into today will be easily blown around by the wind. The most likely avalanche problem to encounter today will be freshly formed wind slabs on leeward slopes, in starting zones and in cross loaded gullies. Slab depths will be in the 12-18” range.

General wind direction will be out of the East and in the 30 to 40 mph range on ridge tops. Keep in mind that wind direction will vary from place to place. Rather than focus on the compass, it is more important to be able to recognize wind slabs by their look and feel. They will appear rounded, smooth and pillowy. They will feel “upside down” and hollow. Shooting cracks, an obvious sign of unstable snow, commonly occur on newly formed wind slabs.

Avoiding terrain where wind slabs are present will be the best way to manage this problem today.

Avalanche Problem 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

More info at Avalanche.org

A layer of weak snow buried 2-5 feet deep is still taking time to adjust to the load it received last week (5’ snow/5” water). This layer was the likely culprit in numerous large natural and human triggered avalanches over the weekend. While time is helping to heal this wound, the destructive potential of an avalanche at this layer is significant. This newest slab, a combination of the March 10th and March 14th storms, is thick enough in most places that it is difficult to impact the layer in question. Because of this it will be possible to travel on steep terrain without any of the obvious signs, including avalanches, to show themselves. It will also be possible for a slope to have a plethora of tracks on it before releasing. Add in the fact that we have had avalanches triggered remotely and this problem becomes even more complex.

Check our observations page for recent avalanche activity and a powerful VIDEO of a snowmachine triggered deep slab avalanche just outside of the forecast area.

Rather than trying to outsmart this instability, it is better to negotiate this problem by avoiding steep slopes and likely trigger points altogether. Likely trigger points include shallow spots in the snowpack and steep rollovers.

Weather

Mon, March 17th, 2014

In the past 24 hours the mountains around Eastern Turnagain Arm have picked up 4-6 € of new snow with .3 € of water. Ridgetop winds have averaged 15mph out of the East with a max gust of 47mph. Temperatures have averaged 10 degrees F and are currently in the teens F.

Today expect lingering snow showers with another 2-3 € of snow possible. Temperatures at 1,000′ will warm into the high 20s/low 30s F. Ridgetop winds will be out of the East in the 30 to 40 mph range.

The extended outlook is calling for an unsettled pattern to bring light snow amounts through Wednesday. A clearing trend looks to develop later in the week.

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 Sat, September 23rd, 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	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Placer River	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Scheduled opening on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving per Chugach National Forest plan. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.