Turnagain Pass

2018/2019 winter avalanche season has begun!

Wednesday Nov. 7th update:

Winter is here and the snowpack is slowly forming in the mountains surrounding Girdwood and Turnagain Pass. Tonight a small storm may bring up to 6-8″ of new snow to higher elevations.  Temperatures have started to increase into the mid 30F’s near sea level and East winds are expected to be moderate (15-30mph) overnight. This new snow will be landing on a shallow snowpack, roughly 8-10″ of settled snow below 2500.’ Cold temperatures over the last 10 days have formed weak faceted snow and surface hoar. Avalanche activity over the next few days will depend on how much new snow we get and how this new snow bonds to the current surfaces. Above 2500′ there is more of a layered snowpack where rain from mid-October fell as snow in the Alpine. We have already seen a few human triggered avalanches in the Alpine which are good reminders that a thin snowpack can still produce a slide.    Here’s a recap of these recent avalanche observations:

• Oct. 30th, we received our first report of a small remote triggered avalanche along the  Crow Pass Trail.  
• Oct. 31st,  avalanche triggered by a skier taking a few jumps on the snow at the entrance to a line off of Pastoral Peak. This avalanche was up to 2′ deep yet only 20′ wide.  
• Nov 3rd, another  avalanche on Pastoral Peak, triggered intentionally by a skier performing a ski cut. This was a shallow wind slab, 3-8″ thick, 30′ wide and running full path.

Remember to always  consider the consequences  of an avalanche, even a small wind slab can knock a person off their feet and somewhere they don’t want to go.  If you head out into the mountains be on the look out for Red Flag warnings:  

1. Recent avalanches
2. Cracks in the snow that shoot out from you
3. Whumpfing (collapsing) of the snowpack
4. Rapid changes in weather (snow/rain/wind/temperature)

Both surface hoar and faceting old snow have been observed this week in Turnagain Pass. These could be our first persistent weak layers if we get any new snow this week.  

A thin sun crust was found on steep southerly aspects on Seattle Ridge as well as a thin early season snowpack.

A human triggered wind slab on a North aspect of Pastoral that was triggered on 11/4 due to moderate winds the two days prior.  

Moderate NW winds blowing snow around on Nov.2 on Sunburst

Special Announcements

The CNFAIC will be issuing  intermittent snow and avalanche updates  as conditions warrant through mid-November.  Daily avalanche forecasts are planned to begin on Thanksgiving weekend  – unless we see more snow and avalanche issues before this demanding an earlier start.  

*Early season folks:  Please send us your snow/avalanche reports so we can post them on our observation page. That you to all those who have  submitted  already! Simply click ‘submit observation’ under the Observation tab above. This is a huge benefit for the community and our forecasters.  Make sure to  like us on Facebook  and  follow us on Instagram  for our most up to date information.

 

Mark your calendars:   EVENTS ARE APPROACHING QUICKLY!

 

Friday November 9th:  6th Annual Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop

9am – 4:30pm,  Alaska Pacific University’s Atwood Bldg.  Join us for the 6th annual SAAW. Alaska’s Southcentral avalanche community will team up with snow professionals from around the region, Southeast Alaska and Idaho to share knowledge and stories. This is a ‘must attend’ event for avalanche professionals and an excellent way for recreational backcountry users to delve into advanced avalanche topics!  Pre-registration closes on Thursday, November 8th at 6pm. After that, you can get tickets for $20 at the door between 8:30 and 9am.  Lunch, coffee, snacks and a post workshop ‘beer social’ is included. Full schedule and registration  HERE.

—————————

Thursday, Nov 15th:  Beartooth CNFAIC Fall Fundraiser:    Hope for Snow!

8 – 11pm, Beartooth Theater Pub & Grill.    A slightly different format this year with short stories and live music. SNOW STORIES by  Wendy Wagner,  Roman Dial and  Blaine Smith.  Live Music by  HOPE SOCIAL CLUB!

Tickets are $20 and will be available starting Oct. 23 at the  Beartooth website and box office.  

—————————

Wednesday, Nov 21st:  Snowmachine throwback film fundraiser –  “2 Stroke Cold Smoke”!

7 – 10pm, 49th State Brewing Co Anchorage. Kick off the riding season, connect with CNFAIC and learn about snowmachine specific avalanche awareness/course opportunities with a ‘throwback film’ night!!    

$20 tickets available soon online and at local snowmachine dealerships. More details coming soon!