Although a skiff of snow is expected for the Anchorage area today, we continue to be snow-starved of late. The last significant precipitation to hit the Turnagain Pass region was 12 days ago now and with cold temperatures and generally light winds, the snowpack has adjusted into mostly strong and stable snow. However, there are a couple surface instabilities and other hazards to watch for if you are headed out for a day in the backcountry.
Surface Instabilities:
– Wind slabs
Over the weekend, Northwest winds blew enough in specific channeled terrain to build stiff and touchy wind slabs; Turnagain Pass itself, however, largely escaped the winds. We found several older wind slabs in the mid-elevation band in the Girdwood Valley yesterday. Keep an eye out for stiff hollow feeling snow and cracking and/or collapsing. These hard wind slabs can be triggered from below – so if found, managing your terrain to move around them will be key.
– Loose snow avalanches
The top several inches of the snowpack is becoming weaker and looser by the day with our cold weather. Triggering sluffs on steep terrain (> 40 degrees) should be expected and easily managed, as long as you are aware of them.
Other hazards found in the mountains:
– Low snow cover
At elevations below 2,000′ beware of hooking alders, hitting rocks, slipping on ice, etc.
– Glide avalanches
Glide cracks continue to litter the landscape and despite the cold temperatures, are still slowly opening. We have not heard of, or seen, a glide release for almost a week now. If you happen to see one – you’ll know because the bed surface will be very dark – let us know!
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