Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Cornice
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 Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ for triggering an unstable cornice or a new/old wind slab. Triggering a slab on an older layer 2+’ deep is becoming less likely, but not impossible in the periphery of the forecast zone near Johnson Pass and Silvertip. Identify glide cracks and avoid traveling under these [Read More] | ||
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Cornice
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 Persistent Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger remains for triggering a cornice or a wind slab avalanche in terrain above 1,000′. Identify ridgelines with cornice features and give them a wide berth. Pay attention to changing weather, shooting cracks or blowing snow €“ these will be obvious clues wind slabs are touchy. Glide cracks are still opening and [Read More] | ||
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Cornice
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Persistent Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger remains for cornice falls and wind slab avalanches in terrain above 1,000′. Several people have accidentally triggered cornice falls in the past few days and today cornices are likely to be just as unstable – give cornices a wide berth. Additionally, watch for fresh wind slabs formed by yesterday’s increase in [Read More] | ||
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Cornice
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger for slopes above 1,000′. Triggering a cornice fall or a wind slab avalanche will be possible in areas exposed to Saturday’s winds. Glide cracks are opening and releasing, avoid travel under them. Pay attention to weather and changing conditions. If snow amounts are higher than forecast expect the [Read More] | ||
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Cornice
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger for slopes above 1,000′. Triggering a cornice fall or a wind slab avalanche will be possible in areas exposed to Saturday’s winds. Glide cracks are opening and could release at anytime, avoid travel under them. JOHNSON PASS / LYNX DRAINAGE / SUMMIT LAKE: South of Turnagain Pass [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger for slopes above 1,000′. Triggering a wind slab avalanche or breaking off a cornice will be possible in areas exposed by yesterday’s winds. Wind slabs could be 1-3′ thick and composed of hard snow, allowing a person onto them before releasing. Glide cracks are opening and could release [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists for wind slab avalanches on exposed slopes above treeline. An increase in winds will form touchy wind slabs 1-3′ thick. Triggering one of these will be likely in areas with recent wind loaded snow. A MODERATE danger exists at all elevations for loose snow avalanches on steeper slopes out of [Read More] | ||
 Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE at all elevations for the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Trigging a storm slab 3-4′ deep is likely in avalanche terrain due to a massive storm that ended yesterday morning. Triggering an unmanageable loose snow avalanche that entrains and picks up momentum is also a real concern. Today’s message is simple, [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Travel is not recommended today in avalanche terrain due to HIGH avalanche danger at all elevations. Large natural avalanches 3-5+’ thick are very likely in the upper elevations due to heavy snow at all elevations. A Special Avalanche Warning has been issued for the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass, Portage Valley and Girdwood Valley. This also [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′. Wind slabs will be possible to trigger on steep wind-loaded slopes. Watch for storm slabs forming and pay attention to changing conditions. Additional concerns: watch your sluff in steep terrain and avoid traveling underneath glide cracks. JOHNSON PASS AND LYNX CREEK: We have no snowpack data from these [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′. Soft slab avalanches composed of Sunday’s storm snow will be possible to trigger on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. These are most likely to be shallow, 6 to 12″ thick, and found near ridgelines and over rollovers. Additional concerns: watch your sluff in steep terrain and avoid traveling [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′. Human triggered storm slab avalanches are likely on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Watch for signs of instability: recent avalanches, cracking and collapsing (whumpfing). Additional concerns: watch your sluff in steep terrain and avoid traveling underneath glide cracks. GIRDWOOD VALLEY: Storms have been favoring Girdwood Valley. Yesterday over [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and Treeline. Human triggered avalanches are possible. Be on the lookout for wind slabs in steep, wind-loaded terrain. Pay attention to snowfall intensity today. The danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE as storm slabs develop. Additional concerns: watch your sluff in steep terrain and avoid traveling underneath glide [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and Treeline. A bump in easterly winds today along with a few inches of snow this morning will likely form fresh wind slabs, up to a foot thick, that could be easy to trigger. If snowfall and wind intensify more than forecast, the danger will rise to [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and at Treeline where triggering a slab 1-3′ deep is possible in a shallow areas of the snowpack. In the Alpine triggering an isolated windslab or getting caught up in a loose snow avalanche is possible in steep terrain. Avoid traveling underneath glide cracks. Assess the snowpack [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and at Treeline where triggering a slab 1-3′ deep is possible. Triggering a windslab or getting caught up in a loose snow avalanche will be possible in steep terrain. Keep an eye out for glide cracks and avoid traveling underneath this unpredictable avalanche hazard. Assess the snowpack [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and at Treeline where triggering a slab 1-3′ deep is possible. Keep an eye out for glide cracks and avoid traveling underneath this unpredictable avalanche hazard. Assess the snowpack as you travel, identify areas of concern and evaluate terrain consequences. UPDATE: An unexpected sleeper storm is upon [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′ in the Alpine. Watch for wind slabs in steep, wind-loaded start zones. Triggering a slab avalanche is still possible. As new snow accumulates assess how well it bonds to the snow surface below. Pay attention to changing conditions. SUMMIT LAKE: A weak and shallow snowpack [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′ in the Alpine. As easterly winds continue today triggering a wind slab in steep leeward terrain will be possible. Watch for changing conditions. If snow amounts are higher than forecast expect danger to rise to CONSIDERABLE and human triggered avalanches to be likely. SUMMIT LAKE: A [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE for elevations above 1,000′. Several feet of new snow fell over two days at the mid and upper elevations overloading the snowpack. Human triggered slab avalanches may be likely and will increase in likelihood with elevation. We are in the window of the first 24 hours after a significant storm, [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain again today as a HIGH avalanche danger remains. Large natural avalanches are likely in the upper elevations as snowfall and winds continue. Wet avalanches are likely in the mid elevations and in channeled terrain below treeline. PORTAGE: Up to 5′ of snow has fallen in the high [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Travel is not recommended today due to HIGH avalanche danger at all elevations. Large natural avalanches 2-3′ thick are very likely in the upper elevations of Turnagain Pass and Girdwood due to strong winds and heavy snow above 2000′. Wet avalanches are likely in the mid elevations and in channeled terrain below treeline. PORTAGE: In [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 2500′ in the Alpine where triggering a wind slab in steep terrain will be possible. Additionally, triggering a slab avalanche 1-3′ thick, releasing on buried surface hoar, is possible though trending toward a lower likelihood. SUMMIT LAKE: A very shallow snowpack exists, but triggering a slab large enough to [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 2500′ in the Alpine. As easterly winds continue, triggering a wind slab in steep terrain will be possible. Additionally, triggering a slab avalanche 1-3′ thick, releasing on buried surface hoar, is still possible though trending to a lower likelihood. [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′ in the Alpine. As easterly winds increase today triggering a wind slab in steep leeward terrain will be possible. Additionally, human triggered slab avalanches 1-3′ thick remain possible due to a weak layer of snow under the Thanksgiving weekend storm snow. [Read More] |