Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

This persistent high pressure weather pattern is reminiscent of the in-laws that have stayed past their welcome.  Sure everybody loves sunshine and mild temps for a few days or even a week, but we yearn for a change in house guests eventually.  I think that most can agree that we are ready for rowdy Old Man winter to come and “crash the couch” for a bit this month!

In the meantime this high pressure is allowing the brave and adventurous among us to venture through the Forest, past the Alder-wall and high into the Alpine.  For those that make it, rewards have come in the form of generally stable snow and soft surface conditions.  That being said, pockets of instabilities may exist in the form of shallow wind slabs and loose snow avalanches.

Wind Slabs:

Shallow wind slabs have been found littered throughout the advisory area in the mid and upper elevations.  As most of the surface is quite soft (comprised of near surface facets or ‘loud powder’) these wind slabs are fairly easy to identify by feel as the surface below your skis will feel stiff or hollow.  These older wind slabs are very likely to be small (<6”) and manageable if initiated. 

Winds are expected to pick up today and intensify tomorrow and into the weekend creating more widespread (though still shallow) wind slabs and some bitterly cold wind chills.

Loose Snow Avalanches:

We’ve had yet another day of weather that has aided in loosening and faceting the snow surface.  Sluffs on steep terrain, > 40 degrees is low in volume but fast moving.  Anticipate this, manage it accordingly and it shouldn’t prove much of an issue today.

Loose snow sluffs are fast moving but managable.  photo: Wendy Wagner