Sat, November 18, 2017 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Sat, November 18th, 2017

Alpine
Above 2,500'

No Rating (0)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

No Rating (0)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

No Rating (0)

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

Announcement

Announcement

More info at Avalanche.org

We are focusing each early season update on one of the Know Before You Go’s ‘GETS’. Today’s GET is GET OUT OF HARMS WAY! (Know Before You Go video link in case you missed it)

Learning how to travel safely in avalanche terrain is a practiced skill. Most avalanche accidents occur on (or beneath) slopes with a steepness between 30 – 45 degrees. When you take an avalanche course your learn how to evaluate slope angles, identify run-out zones, and how to avoid terrain traps. Before you decide to go into the backcountry, check the forecast. This will help you match your terrain choice to the current avalanche conditions. If the avalanche conditions are too dangerous don’t go into avalanche terrain.

In order to minimize your exposure to an avalanche hazard always practice safe travel rituals. Identify safe zones along your route and only expose one at a time in avalanche terrain by spreading out or going one at a time. Its very important to maintain good communication, spot your partners, and always be rescue ready. For snowmachiners this can be extra challenging due to much faster speeds, loud engines and greater distances. Consider using radios and discuss your route and safe zones before you start riding. Always regroup well away from slopes that can avalanche. Remember even small slopes can have deadly consequences.

Below are a series of photos of popular areas around Turnagain Pass that are in avalanche terrain. Note the location of the skin track or uptrack. Think about where your safe zones would be located along these routes and how you can minimize exposure should the slope realease.

This avalanche was triggered by a snowmachiner on January 8th, 2013 and luckily no one was caught.

Natural Cornice fall triggered a small slab and ran into the terrain trap below and up and over a common “safe zone.” Imagine how far a larger avalanche could run in this same slide path.

This avalanche was triggered by a skier in 2015 who was caught and carried, and thankfully not buried or injured. This avalanche crossed over the skin track below. Its important to note avalanche hazard can exist on both sides of the valley and it is challenging to see if other parties are descending from above.

Weather

Sat, November 18th, 2017

For weather information during these updates, see:

CNFAIC Weather Page

NWS Mountain Recreation Forecast

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)
Summit Lake (1400′)
Alyeska Mid (1700′)

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)
Seattle Ridge (2400′)

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 Sat, September 23rd, 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	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Placer River	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Scheduled opening on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving per Chugach National Forest plan. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.