Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger will rise to HIGH danger above 2000 ft by this evening for Turnagain Pass, Girdwood, and Portage Valley. Human triggered avalanches 1-3 ft deep are likely this afternoon and large natural avalanches will become more likely as snow totals increase. Below 2000 ft expect storm slabs to increase to 1+ feet thick [Read More] | ||
 Persistent Slabs
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 Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine today. Human triggered slab avalanches 2-3′ thick are likely on steep slopes above 2000′. A MODERATE danger exists at Treeline and below where triggering an avalanche is still possible. Pay attention to changing conditions on solar aspects and with warming temperatures in the afternoon. Watch for roller [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today. Human triggered slab avalanches 2-3′ thick are likely on steep slopes and may be triggered remotely. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential. Give cornices a wide berth and watch for wet snow moving in low elevation terrain. SUMMIT LAKE: Despite only a few [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains HIGH above treeline and is CONSIDERABLE below treeline. Human triggered large slab avalanches will be likely on steep windloaded slopes. Slabs will be in the 2-3′ thick range and may be found in sheltered zones. These could be triggered remotely from ridgelines or from below. Additionally, cornice falls will be likely. [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE this morning due to 1-2 feet of new snow in the past 24-hours. The danger is expected to rise to HIGH this evening as another round of snow and wind moves in. Human triggered slab avalanches, up to 2+ feet thick, will be likely. Natural avalanches will be possible. The [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger has risen to CONSIDERABLE for Turnagain Pass, Girdwood, Placer Valley and the Seward zone due to strong winds and a mix of rain and snow. Above 1000′ triggering storm slabs up to 1′ thick is likely on slopes steeper than 35 degrees today. Below 1000′ loose-wet avalanches are possible. Careful snowpack [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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LOW avalanche danger is expected today, but if more snow falls than forecasted, the danger may rise to MODERATE. Pay attention to changing weather. Watch for shallow wind slabs forming in the afternoon with 1-2″ of new snow and increasing winds. Avoid travel under glide cracks and give cornices a wide berth. Good travel [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger remains across the advisory area. Triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely. Watch for sluffing on steep shaded slopes, avoid travel under glide cracks and give cornices a wide berth. Pay attention to changing conditions. [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger remains across the advisory area. Triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely. Watch for sluffing on steep shaded slopes, avoid travel under glide cracks and give cornices a wide berth. Pay attention to changing conditions. [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger remains for Turnagain, Girdwood and Portage areas. Although triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely, watch for sluffs on steep shaded slopes. Avoid travel under glide cracks and give cornices a wide berth. SUMMIT LAKE / SILVERTIP: More caution is advised south of Turnagain Pass as the snowpack is thin [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger remains for Turnagain, Girdwood and Portage areas. Although triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely, watch for sluffs on steep shaded slopes. Glide cracks are moving. Minimize travel under them as they can release at anytime. And as always, give cornices a wide berth. SUMMIT LAKE / SILVERTIP: More caution [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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There is a generally LOW avalanche danger in the Turnagain, Girdwood and Portage areas. Triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely. Watch for sluffs on steep shaded slopes and give cornices a wide berth. Glide cracks are moving, minimize travel under them as they can release at anytime. SUMMIT LAKE / SILVERTIP: More caution is [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain area in the morning. Radiation from the sun and above freezing temperatures will be heating up Southerly aspects today and could raise the danger to MODERATE in the afternoon. This means a person may initiate a loose-wet avalanche in steep South facing [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain area. LOW danger doesn’t mean NO danger. The sun and above freezing temperatures will be heating up Southerly aspects and a person may initiate a wet-loose avalanche in steep South facing terrain in the afternoon. Give cornices a wide berth and avoid [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain area. Steep rocky southerly facing slopes may heat up enough by the afternoon for a person to initiate wet sluffs. Give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Good travel habits, such as exposing one person at a time, [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes over 35 degrees above 2,000′. Triggering a slab resting on weak faceted snow is still possible. Slabs could be anywhere from 6″ to 2′ thick depending on prior wind-loading. Additionally, pay attention to changing conditions with warm temperatures in the Alpine, especially on steep slopes in direct sunshine. [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes over 35 degrees above 2,000′. Triggering a slab resting on weak faceted snow is still possible. Slabs could be anywhere from 6″ to 2′ thick depending on prior wind-loading. Additionally, pay attention to changing conditions with warm temperatures in the Alpine, especially on steep slopes in direct sunshine. [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes over 35 degrees above 2,000′. Triggering an older wind slab resting on weaker faceted snow is possible. Slabs could be anywhere from 4″ to 2′ thick depending on prior windloading. Steep rocky terrain will be the most likely place to find one of these avalanches. Additionally, sunshine with [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger on slopes above 1,000′. Triggering a wind slab avalanche around a foot thick is possible on wind loaded steeper slopes. Additionally, sunshine and warm temperatures may cause wet sluffs in steep southerly facing terrain. As always, give cornices a wide berth and limit exposure under glide cracks. GIRDWOOD / [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine due to strong Northwest winds that have loaded leeward terrain. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ are likely above treeline on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Natural wind slabs are possible. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Blowing snow, shooting cracks and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine due to strong Northwest winds blowing new snow and loading leeward terrain. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ are likely above treeline on steep terrain and unsupported slopes. Natural wind slabs are possible. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Blowing snow, shooting [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE due to recent snowfall and wind loading. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick are possible on wind loaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Watch for changing conditions as the storm arrives today and look for signs of instability. [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE due to recent snowfall and wind loading. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick are possible on slopes 35 degrees and steeper, especially in wind-loaded terrain. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Watch for changing conditions and look for signs of instability. GIRDWOOD / [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE due to recent snowfall and wind loading. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick are likely on slopes 35 degrees and steeper, especially in wind loaded terrain. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth and avoid travel under glide cracks. Careful snowpack evaluation and conservative decision-making are essential if headed into avalanche [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is rising to CONSIDERABLE due to new snow and wind over the region. Naturally occurring storm snow avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely. Fresh wind slabs, 1-2′ thick, should be easily triggered on wind loaded slopes. Areas seeing over 10″ of new snow should expect slab avalanches in wind [Read More] |