Turnagain Pass
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists above 2,500′ where triggering a large Deep Slab avalanche (3-8+ feet) remains possible. This is a scary avalanche problem where multiple people can ski/ride/snowmanchine on a slope before an unlucky person finds a thin spot and the whole slope releases. Steer clear of cornices by giving them extra space, and don’t be surprised by fast moving loose surface snow. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Below 2500′, the avalanche danger is LOW where triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely due to a stout crust that has formed. LOW danger does not mean no danger, a loose snow avalanche could knock you off your feet. Be aware of runout zones in the event that someone triggers a very large avalanche in the alpine that could run into the mid elevation zone.
For information about Summit Lake avalanche conditions click HERE.
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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. |
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
A high consequence, stubborn to trigger avalanche problem lurks above 3000’, where it will be easy to assume a false sense of stable conditions. A stout crust has stabilized the snowpack in the mid and lower elevations, and this crust disappears under the new snow somewhere around 3000’. In the Alpine several weak layers (buried surface hoar and facets) remain preserved deep within the snowpack, under 3-8+ feet of snow. Basically there is an invisible gray line between Treeline and the Alpine where the snowpack goes from stable to a Deep Persistent Slab problem without notice.
Several tracks may be on a slope before someone finds a trigger spot, a thinner area of the snowpack, that takes the whole slope. Because this problem is impossible to assess without x-ray vision, an element of luck will be involved if you ride/ski in big terrain without incident. You can manage this problem with your elevation by sticking to terrain below 3000’ or by choosing low-consequence terrain in the alpine. Don’t forget the bigger your objective, the bigger the size of a potential avalanche.
Keep in mind:
A natural avalanche on Sunburst released mid-storm, likely Tuesday (1/16), and serves as a good reminder that slopes that have already avalanched, during one of the many storms this season, should not be considered safe. This recent avalanche was 3/4 of mile wide, ran 2000’, and filled up the entire drainage of Taylor Creek.
The 1st pit was dug just above the crown on Sunburst at 3400′ in a thinner area of the snowpack. The 2nd pit was a few hundred feet away in the bed surface. This is a good example of the poor structure that is buried 3-8+ deep in many places.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
Cornices have been growing over the last week and could be easy to trigger. Give these features a lot of space and remember they can break further back from a ridge than expected. A cornice fall also has the potential to trigger a very large avalanche on the slope below.
Fast moving surface snow “sluff” was observed yesterday and it could knock a skier or rider down if you’re not expecting it. You can manage this problem by slowing down and letting the snow move past you. This of course will be more problematic in steep high consiquence terrain where falling would be undesirable and is a secondary risk to the bigger problem mentioned above.
Yesterday skies were partly cloudy and temperatures were between 15-25F. Winds were light and variable and no precipitation was recorded.
Today looks similar, partly cloudy temperatures ranging from mid to low teens at ridge tops to mid 20F’s near sea level. Ridge top winds are expected to remain light and variable.
High pressure over main land Alaska is causing cold clear, and rather benign weather in Southcentral Alaska. A similar trend is expected this week and temperatures may dip into the single digits at times.
**Seattle Ridge weather station stopped recording wind data on 1/17/18 due to rime covering the anemometer.
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
Center Ridge (1880′) | 20 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 18 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 23 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | 18 | variable | 3 | 12 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 20 | **n/a | **n/a | **n/a |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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