Turnagain Pass
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Confidence in the overall stability of our snowpack is increasing each day. It has been a full week since the end of the last storm. Since then we saw a typical rash of avalanches immediately following the storm. The last few days people have really started skiing on steep terrain, without triggering the deep slab that has concerned us.
Come join CNFAIC forecasters this Sunday for a FREE AVALANCHE RESCUE WORKSHOP at Turnagain Pass! Focus will be on beacon practice through avalanche rescue scenarios. We’ll meet in the motorized lot at 10:30am and wrap up by 1:30pm. Skiers and sledders welcome! Please drop a note to kevin@chugachavalanche.org to reserve a spot for you and your crew, as space is limited.
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Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
This problem is increasingly becoming unlikely, but the hazard associated with it could be dangerous if triggered. The storm snow from last week has now settled to about 3+ feet of hard consolidated snow. This slab is strong and difficult to trigger, but it sits at an interface that sometimes shows poor bonding to the older layer below it.
The deep slab is most likely to be triggered from a shallow area where the slab tapers down to 1 foot deep or less. Alternatively a large trigger like multiple skiers or a snowmachine could initiate through a deeper portion of the slab.
Photo – Typical steep terrain with deep slab avalanches evident from the storm and large cornice features.
We got a report of a small wind slab triggered in Pastoral a couple days ago. Click here for observation. An east wind was loading up westerly aspects. Today it is possible to find stiff aging wind slab that could pop when traveled on. Keep this in mind, especially in steeper terrain.
Cornices are big and mature this time of year. As people get onto steeper terrain the cornice factor becomes more significant. In some steep areas they are a mandatory nuisance to be negotiated.
Remember to scope out a safe entrance that avoids a blind approach onto overhanging cornice features. Take a rope for a safe belay if you think your chosen line can’t avoid cornice exposure.
The last storm ended more than a week ago. High pressure and sunny skies have dominated the weather pattern since then. We had some moderate wind on Thursday that blew some snow around.
We are looking at another calm sunny day ahead of us. Temperatures will start out cold this morning, ~10 degrees at valley floor and ~20 degrees at the ridgetops. The sun will quickly warm things up to the high 30s in the afternoon. East wind to 10mph.
Sun will stay in the forecast into mid week. No major storms are on the horizon as the Rex block continues to dominate weather over Alaska.
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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