Turnagain Pass

Layers of weak snow continue to linger below the surface.  On Turnagain Pass the predominant layer of concern is buried surface hoar roughly 2 feet down.  This setup exists mainly above 2,500’.  In the Girdwood Valley and Summit lake areas that layer is facets and is less even in its distribution.  While it has been over 2 weeks since we have seen significant precipitation and about a week since significant winds have loaded slopes, the potential still remains for avalanches to occur on these buried weak layers.

The likelihood of triggering an avalanche anywhere from 1-3 deep is on the low end of the scale.  However, if one were to trigger an avalanche there is still the potential for avalanches to propagate across slopes and be large enough to carry, injure or bury a person.

Most surfaces are firm and supportable around the forecast area.  Slabs are generally strong and can support a lot of weight.  Trigger points in the form of shallow snow and steep rollovers are the most likely areas to initiate an avalanche today.  Slabs of this hardness can break above you making escape very difficult.

If venturing onto steep terrain practice good travel habits:
Expose only one person at a time
Utilize islands of safety for spotting and re-grouping
Identify escape routes in the event of a slab releasing
Communicate route decisions and plans within your group effectively
Be aware of groups above and below you and avoid exposing other groups to avalanche hazard

An “outlier” concern today are old wind slabs.  High winds of a week ago created very dense slabs on the surface as thick as 1 foot.  These slabs have shown to be generally non-reactive.  However, it is still worth keeping these slabs in mind especially if getting onto steep (>40 degree) unsupported slopes.