Mon, March 14, 2016 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Mon, March 14th, 2016

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Low (1)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Moderate (2)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

No Rating (0)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Low (1)
Treeline 1,000'-2,500'		Moderate (2)
Below Treeline Below 1,000'		No Rating (0)

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Avalanche Problem 1

Glide Avalanches

Glide Avalanches

Glide Avalanches are the release of the entire snow cover as a result of gliding over the ground. Glide avalanches can be composed of wet, moist, or almost entirely dry snow. They typically occur in very specific paths, where the slope is steep enough and the ground surface is relatively smooth. They are often proceeded by full depth cracks (glide cracks), though the time between the appearance of a crack and an avalanche can vary between seconds and months. Glide avalanches are unlikely to be triggered by a person, are nearly impossible to forecast, and thus pose a hazard that is extremely difficult to manage.

More info at Avalanche.org

Several more glide avalanches were seen yesterday between Girdwood and Turnagain Pass. The most notable was on Penguin Ridge. This is the third large glide to release on Penguin this week, however yesterday’s was the largest and pieces of debris reached the bike path below.

Glide cracks cover all aspects within the mid elevation band (between 1000-3000’) and remain a significant threat to popular terrain. This avalanche problem is impossible to predict and not associated with human triggers. As long as glide cracks continue to open up, move and release, we will stress the importance of avoiding them, which is THE ONLY WAY TO MANAGE THIS AVALANCHE PROBLEM.

Penguin Ridge Glide avalanches: Lookers left first reported on Sunday morning, 3/13. Middle glide avalanche is from 3/11, and the one on the right is from 3/9.

View of Penquin Ridge from accross Turnagain Arm. Note the large glide crack still opening up near the furthest right glide avalanche.

Avalanche Problem 2

Normal Caution

Normal Caution

Normal Caution means triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible.

More info at Avalanche.org

Over the weekend slope testers (motorized and human powered) pushed into steep terrain with several small human triggered avalanches occurring Saturday. Yesterday Turnagain Pass was very crowded and no new activity was reported. As we move further away from Friday’s 12” storm this is a good indication that generally stable avalanche conditions exist in the alpine.

With sunny weather and spring break crowds it is extra important to be aware of other people in the area. Should you choose to enter into steeper terrain only expose one person at a time and regroup in safe zones. LOW DANGER DOES NOT MEAN NO DANGER, triggering one of the following avalanche problems is still possible today.

Loose snow: Don’t be surprised by loose snow sluffing on shaded aspects. Sluffing could be fast moving with the ability to entrain a significant amount of surface snow in big terrain. On solar aspects pay attention to how the sun is warming the surface and be aware of wet loose avalanches should the snow become wet and saturated.

Cornice fall: Very large cornice features loom over many ridgeline and have a tendency to break further back than expected. Give them lots of space, and limit time under them.

Windslabs – On shaded aspects in very steep terrain it is still possible to find an old isolated wind slab. This will be more likely in extreme terrain with rocks, cliffs and unsupported features.

Weather

Mon, March 14th, 2016

Yesterday skies were mostly sunny and temperatures reached the mid 40’s F. Winds were light from the East, switching to a Westerly directly last night. Overnight temperature dropped back into the low 20’s F and no new precipitation has been recorded since Friday (3/11).

Today skies are expected to be partly sunny with light NW winds. Daytime temperatures could easily reach the high 30’s F to low 40’s F by early afternoon. This evening cloud cover may increase with a slight chance of snow showers.

Tomorrow light snow showers will move through the region, but not much accumulation is expected. Temperatures are expected to remain mild.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	33	0	0	137
Summit Lake (1400′)	26	0	0	42
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	32	0	0	109

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	27	Variable	5	18
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	28	SE	9	29

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.