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ARCHIVED - Forecasts expire after 24 hours.
Issued
Tue, October 18th, 2016 - 7:00AM
Expires
Wed, October 19th, 2016 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
CNFAIC Staff
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

WINTER HAS ARRIVED!!!!!  ARE YOU READY FOR THE 2016/17 SEASON??? Check out this observation from Turnagain Pass today.  

The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center is gearing up and the snow in October is adding to the excitement. We have just had the second snowfall of the season (the first was in late September) and more is likely on the way. With this is mind, we wanted to remind folks about early season avalanche conditions and encourage you to attend a few upcoming events.  

Mark your calendars:

  • Friday, Nov 4th:  Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop  – Alaska’s regional professional workshop. ***NEW this year, the afternoon session is FREE (12:30-4:30pm) and geared for backcountry travelers!!***
  • Thursday, Nov 17th:    Friends of the CNFAIC Fall FUNdraiser  – Don’t miss this chance to support your  avalanche center and get inspired for the season listening to  Elyse  Saugstad’s ski adventures!!!
  • Tuesday, Nov 8th:  Avalanche Awareness and navigating the CNFAIC website and tools.  
           6:30-8pm at Ski AK’s new location on Benson (same entry as the Trek bike shop) in Anchorage

Stay tuned for more events, including our free awareness courses and Fireside Chats to be listed on our calendar page this week.  

We will begin issuing intermittent updates if the snow keeps falling on this page as well as posting on our Facebook and Instagram pages (Facebook link in the upper right corner and Instagram: @chugachavy). Full advisories with danger ratings will begin sometime in November or as snow and avalanche conditions warrant.

**If you venture out remember if there is snow to ride there is snow to slide. Keep in mind the Crow Pass trail crosses several avalanche paths and even a small early season storm can produce slides that run over the trail. Heads up!

Early season hazards:

Rocks, alders, crevasses and  avalanches.  

What to clue into:

1)  Rapid changes in weather? This includes recent or current snowfall, wind, rain on snow and warm temperatures after a storm. One layer of snow can be a slab! What surface is the snow falling on?  

2)  Recent avalanches in the past 1 or 2 days?

3) Cracking, collapsing, whumphing?

4) What are the consequences if the slope does slide? Will you go off a cliff? Into a crevasse? Over the rocks? Are there other terrain traps?

Check your rescue gear, put fresh batteries in your beacon, tune up your brain!  

Let us know what you see! Submit an observation or drop us a note staff@chugachavalanche.org!  

THINK COLD POWDER THOUGHTS FOR THIS SEASON!!!!

Tue, October 18th, 2016
Alpine
Above 2,500'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
0 - No Rating
1 - Low
2 - Moderate
3 - Considerable
4 - High
5 - Extreme
Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk
Travel Advice Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain.
Likelihood of Avalanches Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.
Avalanche Size and Distribution Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. Very large avalanches in many areas.
Observations
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This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area. This advisory does not apply to highways, railroads or operating ski areas.
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