Turnagain Pass

As a warm band of moisture moves through the region we contine to see rain between 2,000′ and 2,500′ and wet snow above this. So far total rainfall during the storm (beginning early yesterday morning) is around 1 to 2″ in the Girdwood and Portage Valley areas – lesser amounts have been seen on Turnagain Pass and South. We have another .5-.75″ of rain on the way today with snow up high. 

Although we are seeing a storm moving through, the main concern will remain focused on glide avalanches. Two new glide cracks released yesterday in the Turnagain Pass region. One (pictured below) was on the South side of Seattle Ridge and the other was on the North face of Sharks Fin. The fact these cracks keep releasing into avalanches should be evidence enough that avoiding travel under glide cracks remains a prudent rule. 

Glide avalanche from yesterday on Seattle Ridge (South end across from the Bertha Creek campground)

Keeping an eye on the Seattle Ridge ‘up-track’. The last glide avalanche threathening this popular zone was on Thursday, April 7th.

As rain continues to melt and saturate the snowpack from 2,500′ and below, wet loose snow avalanches are a concern. At these elevations, triggering wet snow sluffs on steep slopes is likely – if one were to travel on steep slopes in this weather. At the elevation band between 2,500 and 3,000′ where wet snow is falling, shallow wet sluffs composed of the new snow are likely to occur naturally. We have not seen the typical springtime large wet avalanches that are compose of the older snow yet, but are watching for this.

Saturated and mostly unsupportable snow exists at the lower and mid-elevations along Turnagain Pass. This photo is near the Sunburst parking lot at 900′ in elevation.

Rain and warm weather is melting the snow out quickly along the South end of Turnagain Pass. Photo is of the Sunburst parking lot looking West toward Seattle Ridge.

At elevations high enough to see dry(ish) snow, storm snow instabilities will be seen. At what elevations will this be? Likely above 3,000′ and in the upper sections of the starting zones along Turnagain Pass. As of this morning there could be anywhere between 6-16+” of snow that has fallen, the most in areas close to Turnagain Arm (Between Girdwood and Tincan). We are looking at another 3-7″ today. With the high winds at these upper elevations, wind slabs 1-2′ thick are likely and could release naturally. Cornice falls are also an issue. both these types of avalanches could entrain wet snow on the way down and run quite far in steep channeled terrain.