Sat, April 04, 2015 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Sat, April 4th, 2015

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

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

More info at Avalanche.org

A series of storms beginning in mid March gradually built up slabs that are now 2-3’ thick. Those slabs sit on a wide array of underlying surfaces, the most concerning of those being weak faceted snow. The most likely places to find this combo of dense slabs sitting on weak layers are slopes with any North facing component. The challenging part to understanding this problem lies in the variability of the underlying weak layer. On certain slopes it is widespread and on other slopes it is non existent. As a result it will be possible to travel on one slope without incident and move onto an adjacent slope and trigger a wide propagating avalanche 2-3’ deep.

Large avalanches released this past week in this type of terrain. Assessment of this problem is difficult. As such, it will be important to pick terrain that allows for a quick exit. Traveling on big sustained slopes on the Northern half of the compass is essentially a roll of the dice for now. Remember that tracks are not an indicator of stable snow.

An example of the setup that is most suspect. ~3 foot slab sitting on weak snow. Difficult to trigger but high consequences remain. This setup exists on many steep north facing slopes thoughout the forecast zone.

Goldpan pit

Avalanche Problem 2

Wet Loose

Wet Loose

Wet Loose avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

More info at Avalanche.org

On steep sunlit slopes expect shallow wet loose activity today. We are a few days into a consistent melt freeze regime with solid freezing at night and gradual warming of the snow surface throughout the day. Timing is everything – there will be a window of time where riding conditions will be great, with only an inch or two of soft wet snow. As that melting gets deeper into the snowpack it is time to dial back your slope angles. Wet loose avalanches have the potential to carry or injure a person in large channeled terrain.

Additional Concern

Cornice

Cornice

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

More info at Avalanche.org

Cornices grew substantially over the last several weeks. Cornices are looming over many starting zones and along ridgelines. Always steer clear of cornices while traveling along ridges; identify where the cornice begins and the underlying terrain ends. When traveling below cornices pick routes that keep time spent in the line of fire at a minimum.

A large cornice looms above South facing terrain in Goldpan. photo: Fitzgerald

Goldpan Cornice

Weather

Sat, April 4th, 2015

Yesterday saw warm temperatures under clear skies. Winds were generally light and no new precipitation was recorded.

Today expect sunny skies, warming temperatures throughout the day and calm winds, as a ridge of high pressure sits over the area. Temps will reach into the low 40s F at 1,000′ and winds will be out of the Southeast at 5-10 mph.

Tomorrow we can expect cloudy conditions with a chance for some light showers as active weather in the Bering helps to break down the aforementioned ridge. Active weather will continue into the early part of next week with a greater chance for accumulating precipitation coming on Monday.

PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	34	0	0	59
Summit Lake (1400′)	31	0	0	10
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	34	0	0	32

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	26	WNW	3	14
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	28	n/a	6	18

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 Thu, June 01st, 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	Closed May 15.
Placer River	Closed	Closed May 15.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Will close to motorized use on April 1, 2023 per the National Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Will close on June 1.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Extended opening until May 15.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.