Turnagain Pass RSS

Archives
ARCHIVED - Forecasts expire after 24 hours.
Issued
Thu, November 9th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Expires
Fri, November 10th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
CNFAIC Staff
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

As we wait for enough snow to fall to warrant full avalanche advisories we are going to continue to provide updates and some educational reminders for the season. Get in the habit of monitoring our observation page  HERE  for Turnagain Pass info. This observation page also houses reports from other areas along with ‘mirrored’ observations for Hatcher Pass. We love getting observations! Please keep them coming if you are an early season backcountry user.

The theme for today is GET THE GEAR!  Know Before You Go  

Investing in avalanche rescue gear is an investment in your life and your backcountry partner’s life. If your gear is old (analog beacon) or you are new to winter backcountry travel we recomend the following when purchasing or upgrading your rescue equipment.  

Triple Antenna Beacon with multiple-burial marking  

-Aluminum Probe  at least 270cm long (Alaska has a deep snowpack)

-Aluminum Shovel  made by a manufacturer who specializes  is avalanche rescue equipment (retire your old plastic shovels or those bought at WalMart/etc – they will likely break when you need them most)

An  Avalanche Air Bag  is an additional piece of safety equipment that does not replace the three essentials above, but has proven to reduce the likelihood of a full-burial. An airbag will not help you find your buried buddy.

***The BEST avalanche rescue equipment is the gear you practice with often. A three-day Level 1 avalanche course provides one full day of avalanche rescue training and is highly recommended for all backcountry users.  Remember these skills are perishable and  practicing avalanche rescue once a month with your regular backcountry partners is something we should all strive for. Check out the Alaska Avalanche School and AAIC’s Education page for upcoming course offerings.  

Special Announcements

Upcoming Events:

Don’t get confused – there are two showing with the Smileys:

BEARTOOTH THEATER PUB (NOV 16)                 GIRDWOOD BREWING COMPANY (NOV 17)

                 

AVALANCHE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS. The Friends of the CNFAIC have two scholarships dedicated to avalanche education. The funds generated to make them possible are in celebration of Rob and Amy, their love and passion for the mountains, and to help others stay safe. We encourage you to read each one and apply yourself if you fit the need, or pass along to someone who could benefit.   Applications due on Dec 15th.

Rob Hamel Scholarship Fund – For recreational users and professional avalanche workers.

Amy Downing Scholarship Fund – For recreational users.

 

Thu, November 9th, 2017
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.
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Announcement
    Announcement

Curious of the current conditions out at Turnagain Pass? Photos below from Wednesday Nov 8th. Only a few folks have been out scratching around in the hills. There is enough snow to ride in certain places where the winds have blown the snow in. There have been no reports of early season human triggered avalanches at Turnagain, but there was a report of a large collapse in the Common Bowl area of Tincan. Steep slopes have some old debris from natural small avalanches earlier in October, such as the North Chutes on Tincan.

Right now however, the cold clear weather is eating away (faceting) what little snow there is and you are likely to find loose sugar snow and crusts if headed out. Winds have also been moving the snow around in exposed zones, likely forming stiff wind slabs. A week of high pressure sits in front of us, yet there looks to be a chance for snow next weekend. Cross your fingers!

Tincan Ridge and Common Bowl

 

Seattle Ridge – view from the motorized lot

 

Eddies Ridge

 

MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS DAY HERE!

Weather
Thu, November 9th, 2017

For weather information during these updates, see:

CNFAIC Weather Page

NWS Mountain Recreation Forecast  

Observations
Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass
Date Region Location
03/27/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan Trees
03/26/24 Turnagain Observation: Cornbiscuit
03/25/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan
03/22/24 Turnagain Avalanche: Magnum Northwest Aspect
03/21/24 Turnagain Observation: Sunburst
03/21/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan Proper North Aspect
03/20/24 Turnagain Avalanche: Seattle Creek Drainage
03/19/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan CFR
03/18/24 Turnagain Avalanche: Tincan – Eddies – Seattle Ridge
03/18/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan
Riding Areas

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Avalanche Forecast by Email

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.