Turnagain Pass

It feels like a return to “what winter should be like” along the Eastern Turnagain Arm this weekend. Snow has been consistently falling after a two week dry spell, and to sea level for the first time in practically 4 years. Friday’s snowfall numbers were confirmed yesterday to be 8-12″ at Turnagain Pass, 7″ at Johnson Pass, 7″ at Ingram Creek at sea level and the winner, 15-18″ in Girdwood Valley. Another round of snow is on the way currently and is expected to bring 2-3″ today and another 4-6″ tonight, at all elevations. These may not be the heavy Chugach Storms, but they are drastically improving riding and skiing conditions.

Avalanche activity yesterday, that we know of, was minimal. Human triggered sluffs and very small slabs were noted. Poor visibility limited a good look around for assessing natural avalanches that may have occurred during the storm. We had a number of folks mention ‘possible crowns’ seen on N facing Sunburst, NE facing Tincan (Todd’s Bowl) and N facing Magnum. 

Andy Moderow captured this picture of Tincan Proper and Hippy Bowl yesterday in a moment of good light. Note the surface ‘texturing’ and drifting by the winds – a good way to determine likely wind loaded slopes vs. wind scoured.

A look at the West face of Magnum from the road in partically obscured light.

WIND SLAB:

Today’s main concern are wind slab avalanches. Winds during the past 24-hours have been bumping into the moderate range along the ridgetops from a generally Easterly direction – this is just enough to form wind slabs in favored areas. The pattern will be the same again today. Although travel above treeline may be challenging with low visibility, if you do get to these areas, pay close attention to what the wind has done, or is doing to the snow. With plenty of loose snow to load slopes, it won’t take much to form slabs 1-2′ thick that could be quite touchy if they are fresh. These slabs are likely to be soft and could be lower on slopes where cross loading may have occurred. 

Red Flags to look for:

1. Recent Avalanches
2. Cracks that shoot out from your snowmachine, skis or snowboard
3. A transition from soft snow to stiffer feeling snow when climbing to exposed areas or higher elevations affected by winds
4. Texturing of the snow surface (may be difficult to see if an inch or two of new snow falls) 

Expect sluffs to be fast moving today on steep and sustained slopes that have a slick wind-hardened surface underneath. Sluffs will be composed of Friday’s storm snow (8-12″). Cold temperatures yesterday and overnight have likely enhanced the potential for these loose snow avalanches in terrain approaching 40 degrees and more.

Yes, we are still concerned about glide cracks releasing. Most of the cracks we know about are in areas rarely traveled. The exception is in -1 Bowl (Main Bowl) in the Seattle Creek drainage where glide cracks threaten terrain commonly traveled. Keep an eye out for cracks, which can be difficult with new snow, and limit time underneath them.