Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Sun, April 7th, 2019	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today at all elevations. Triggering a shallow wind slab will be possible on steep leeward features in the Alpine due to new snow and wind. Be prepared for small natural wet loose activity on solar aspects in the Alpine if the sun makes an appearance today. Below 3000′ glide cracks [Read More]
Sat, April 6th, 2019	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today at all elevations. Triggering a wind slab up to 10″ thick will be possible on steep leeward features due to new snow and strong wind. Below 3000′ glide cracks may avalanche without warning in popular terrain. Plan your route to avoid traveling under existing cracks. Additionally triggering a wet [Read More]
Fri, April 5th, 2019	Glide Avalanches		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE for glide avalanches. Glide cracks have been releasing into avalanches in many popular recreating areas and pose a hazard to anyone traveling under glide cracks. Additionally, human triggered wet loose avalanches are possible if southerly slopes warm enough to soften surface crusts. As always, give cornices a wide berth – [Read More]
Thu, April 4th, 2019	Glide Avalanches		The avalanche danger is MODERATE due to the potential for a glide crack to avalanche naturally without warning. Most glide cracks are located in the treeline zone on East – South – West aspects below 3000′. Identify terrain with glide cracks and plan your route to avoid travel directly below these unpredictable hazards. [Read More]
Wed, April 3rd, 2019	Glide Avalanches		The avalanche danger is MODERATE due to the possibility of glide avalanches releasing naturally. Identify terrain with glide cracks and plan your route to avoid travel directly below these unpredictable hazards. Triggering a wet loose avalanche is possible in the afternoon and evening on steep Southern aspects. Monitor surface conditions and transition to firmer slopes [Read More]
Tue, April 2nd, 2019	Wet Loose	Glide Avalanches	Warm temperatures and direct sunlight will increase the avalanche danger from LOW this morning to MODERATE by this afternoon/evening. Human triggered wet loose avalanches on steep, solar aspects, especially above 3000′, are possible once the sun softens surface crusts and weakens the snowpack. Avoid being under glide cracks and give cornices an extra wide berth! [Read More]
Mon, April 1st, 2019	Wet Loose	Glide Avalanches	Another day of VERY WARM temperatures will increase the avalanche danger from LOW this morning to CONSIDERABLE by this afternoon/evening. Dangerous wet loose, wet slab and glide avalanches may release naturally once the sun softens surface crusts and weakens the snowpack. All steep slopes above 1,000′ facing East, South and West that see direct sunshine [Read More]
Sun, March 31st, 2019	Wet Loose	Glide Avalanches	VERY WARM temperatures will increase the avalanche danger from LOW this morning to CONSIDERABLE by this afternoon/evening. Large and dangerous wet loose, wet slab and glide avalanches may release naturally once the sun softens surface crusts and weakens the snowpack. All slopes above 1,000′ facing East, South and West that see direct sunshine should be [Read More]
Sat, March 30th, 2019	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is LOW below 3,000′ this morning and will rise to CONSIDERABLE this afternoon/evening with the heat of the day. Once surface crusts soften and become unsupportable, human triggered wet loose avalanches will be likely on steep sunny slopes. These could be large and dangerous in big terrain and could initiate a wet [Read More]
Fri, March 29th, 2019	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is generally LOW in the morning below 3000′, but is expected to rise to CONSIDERABLE by late afternoon on steep Southern aspects where initiating a wet loose avalanche is likely. Above 3000′ the avalanche danger is MODERATE where triggering a deeper more dangerous slab avalanche is possible. Later in the day with [Read More]
Thu, March 28th, 2019	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE across the Advisory area this morning but will rise to CONSIDERABLE above 2000′ on South (SE-SW) aspects due to the possibility of wet loose avalanches and glide avalanches in the afternoon. With warm temperatures and direct sunshine on steep, solar aspects triggering a large, dangerous deep slab avalanche in the [Read More]
Wed, March 27th, 2019	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE across the Advisory area this morning but will rise to CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine later in the day and natural deep slab and wet loose avalanches will become possible. With warm temperatures and direct sunshine on steep, solar aspects triggering a large, dangerous slab avalanche in the Alpine is also [Read More]
Tue, March 26th, 2019	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE across the Advisory area today. Warm temperatures and direct sunshine will make triggering a wet loose avalanche possible on steep, solar aspects. Triggering a large, dangerous slab avalanche in the Alpine is also still possible. Choose terrain carefully. Give cornices and glide cracks a wide berth. Pay attention to changing [Read More]
Mon, March 25th, 2019	Wet Slab	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE this morning but will increase to HIGH by this afternoon with direct sunlight and very warm air temperatures making natural large wet slab avalanches likely. This is the first day of sunshine after many inches of rain and feet of snow at upper elevations. The snowpack needs time to adjust, [Read More]
Sun, March 24th, 2019	Wet Slab		A HIGH avalanche danger remains over the region. Warm and wet weather continues to melt down the snowpack and cause large wet slab and wet loose avalanches to release naturally. These avalanches are occurring on slopes near and below 3,000′. They are gouging to the ground, running to valley bottoms at times and very destructive. [Read More]
Sat, March 23rd, 2019	Wet Slab		The avalanche danger remains HIGH due to wet and stormy weather causing large wet slab avalanches to release naturally. These avalanches are occurring on slopes near and below 3,000′ and have been taking much of the season’s snowpack with them, which is sending dirty debris to valley bottoms. Above 3,000′ storm snow avalanches and cornice [Read More]
Fri, March 22nd, 2019	Wet Slab		The avalanche danger will remain HIGH today due to heavy rain, above freezing temperatures and strong wind in Turnagain Pass, Girdwood, and Portage. Natural wet slab avalanches are likely below 3000′. In the alpine natural storm slabs 2-3+ feet deep are also likely today and have the potential to step down into a very deep [Read More]
Thu, March 21st, 2019	Wet Slab		The avalanche danger will remain HIGH today for Turnagain Pass, Girdwood and Portage due to above freezing temperatures and the likelihood of natural wet slab avalanches below 3000′. In the alpine natural and human triggered storm slab 2-3′ deep are likely today and have the potential to step down into a very deep and dangerous [Read More]
Wed, March 20th, 2019	Storm Slabs		The avalanche danger will rise to HIGH today and large to very large natural avalanches will become likely. Very warm temperatures, heavy precipitation with a rising rain/snow line and strong winds will impact the region. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avalanches have the potential to be very deep and dangerous. PORTAGE VALLEY: [Read More]
Tue, March 19th, 2019	Storm Slabs		The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today. Very large avalanches occurred naturally Sunday and Monday sending debris far into runout zones and through flat areas. Slopes are loaded with 8 to 15 feet of snow. Today is a break between storms. However, natural avalanches are still possible and human triggered avalanches are likely today. [Read More]
Mon, March 18th, 2019	Storm Slabs		The avalanche danger remains HIGH in the backcountry. Very large avalanches occurred naturally yesterday and are expected to keep releasing today. Ten days of stormy weather has been loading slopes with 8 to 15 feet of snow, which is peeling off the mountains. These slides are big and have been sending debris far into runout [Read More]
Sun, March 17th, 2019	Storm Slabs		Another storm hitting the region today will keep the avalanche danger HIGH. Large and dangerous avalanches continue to release naturally as rain, snow and wind impact the area. Avalanches releasing in the high elevations have been sending debris to valley floors, which is expected again today. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Avoid slopes [Read More]
Sat, March 16th, 2019	Storm Slabs		The avalanche danger is HIGH for a fourth consecutive day given the continuation of a series of warm, wet and windy storms depositing heavy snow and rain in rapid succession in the Turnagain Pass area. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended again today. Avoid slopes 30 degrees or steeper, including runout zones. [Read More]
Fri, March 15th, 2019	Storm Slabs		HIGH avalanche danger remains in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass, Girdwood Valley, and Portage Valley. Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected on all slopes 30 degrees and steeper – including runout zones. Avalanches are expected to release naturally, be easily triggered by people and send debris to valley floors. Travel in avalanche terrain is NOT recommended. [Read More]
Thu, March 14th, 2019	Storm Slabs		A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING has been issued through the National Weather Service for the Turnagain Pass area and surrounding mountains. Heavy snowfall and strong winds have created a HIGH avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass, Girdwood Valley, Portage Valley, and areas on the Kenai including Summit Lake and the Seward zone. Dangerous avalanche [Read More]