Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Wed, March 21st, 2018	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Triggering a large, destructive slab avalanche 2-4+ feet thick is possible on all aspects above 1000′ and may be remotely triggered. Watch for wind slabs along ridgelines and avoid cornices. Pay attention to afternoon warming. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Below 1000′ the danger is LOW. [Read More]
Tue, March 20th, 2018	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2500′. Strong winds today could trigger natural wind slabs in the Alpine. Triggering a large, destructive slab avalanche 2-4+ feet thick is possible on all aspects above 1000′. Watch for tender wind slabs along ridgelines and avoid cornices. Pay attention to afternoon warming. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. [Read More]
Mon, March 19th, 2018	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	Today is a day of transition. Triggering a large, dangerous slab avalanche 2-4+’ thick is still possible on all aspects and all elevations due to weak snow under a dense slab. However, there are additional avalanche problems closer to the surface. This morning, the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all aspects below 1000′ where rain [Read More]
Sun, March 18th, 2018	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ on all aspects and CONSIDERABLE on all aspects below 1000′. Triggering a large, dangerous slab avalanche 2-4+’ thick is possible on all aspects above 1000′ and likely below 1000′ due to three days above freezing in that elevation band. Pay attention to daily warming and changing snow conditions. [Read More]
Sat, March 17th, 2018	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all aspects and elevations, and may increase to HIGH in the afternoon if we see natural avalanches on Southerly aspects. Triggering a slab avalanche 2-4+’ thick is likely on all aspects below 3000′. Above this elevation where slab depths are deeper, the potential for triggering a very deep and [Read More]
Fri, March 16th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	Today spring like conditions and above freezing temperatures have elevated the avalanche danger to HIGH across our forecast zone. Natural avalanches are anticipated and human triggered avalanches are likely on all aspects and elevations. Triggering a dangerous slab 2-5′ thick is very likely in avalanche terrain and natural wet loose and large slab avalanches are [Read More]
Thu, March 15th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger today at all elevations. We’ve seen natural or human-triggered avalanches everyday since Monday and our snowpack structure is such that snowmachiners and skiers may trigger an avalanche from a distance or the bottom of a slope today. Be mindful of avalanche run-out zones and what is above you. [Read More]
Wed, March 14th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. Large slab avalanches 2-4+ feet thick are likely to be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. These may be triggered from a distance or from the bottom of a slope. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making are essential. If the sun comes out today natural avalanches are possible, especially [Read More]
Tue, March 13th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger remains above 1000′ on all aspects. Large slab avalanches 2-4+ feet thick are likely to be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. These may be triggered from a distance or from the bottom of a slope. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making are essential. MODERATE avalanche danger exists below 1000′ where [Read More]
Mon, March 12th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger remains above 1000′ on all aspects. Large slab avalanches 2-4 feet thick are likely to be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. These may be triggered from a distance or from the bottom of a slope. Additionally, moderate winds today may be forming shallow wind slabs and adding stress to the [Read More]
Sun, March 11th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger remains at all elevations and on all aspects. Large slab avalanches 2-4′ thick are likely to be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. These may be triggered from a distance or from the bottom of a slope. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making will be essential for safe backcountry travel. [Read More]
Sat, March 10th, 2018	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at all elevations and on all aspects in the mountains from Girdwood to Seward. Large slab avalanches composed of 2-4′ of yesterday’s storm snow are likely to be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. These may be triggered from a distance or from the bottom of a slope. Larger [Read More]
Fri, March 9th, 2018	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is HIGH at all elevations where natural and human triggered avalanche 2-4+ feet deep are likely today. An avalanche from above could run farther and faster than expected and has the potential to reach valley bottoms. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended including being under the runout of larger slopes above. [Read More]
Thu, March 8th, 2018	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE today and to HIGH tonight as a potent storm moves into Western Prince William Sound. Heavy snowfall combined with strong wind will create dangerous avalanche conditions by this evening. Natural and human triggered avalanches will become likely. Elevated caution is advised today as snow begins to accumulate and [Read More]
Wed, March 7th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1000′ on all aspects. Triggering a large slab avalanche breaking in weak layers 1-3′ deep in the snowpack is possible. Watch for old wind slabs along ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. [Read More]
Tue, March 6th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1000′ on all aspects. Triggering a large slab avalanche breaking in weak layers 1-3′ deep in the snowpack remains possible. Watch for old wind slabs along ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. [Read More]
Mon, March 5th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1000′ on all aspects. Old wind slabs, up to a foot thick and sitting on weak snow, will be possible to trigger along ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. A larger slab avalanche (up to 2′ or more thick) that breaks in weak layers deeper in the snowpack also remains [Read More]
Sun, March 4th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ on all aspects. Lingering wind slabs (up to a foot thick) will be possible to trigger along with a larger slab avalanche (up to 2′ or more thick) that breaks in weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Sunshine today may trigger small wet loose avalanches on steep Southerly [Read More]
Sat, March 3rd, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ where triggering a wind slab will be possible. Additionally, old weak layers deeper in the pack may be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. **If headed South of Turnagain Pass be aware of recent avalanche activity in Summit Lake and Lost Lake [Read More]
Fri, March 2nd, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ where triggering a wind slab will be possible. Additionally, old weak layers deeper in the snowpack may be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. **If headed South of Turnagain Pass be aware of recent avalanche activity in Summit Lake and Lost Lake [Read More]
Thu, March 1st, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations due strong winds over the past two days. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ thick will be possible, and radiation from the sun could make slabs easier to initiate in the afternoon on solar aspects. Additionally, old weak layers deeper in the pack may be triggered, creating a [Read More]
Wed, February 28th, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations due to Monday’s storm snow combined with moderate to strong winds over the past two days. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ thick will be possible. Expect loose snow sluffs in steep protected terrain. Additionally, old weak layers deeper in the pack may be triggered, creating a larger [Read More]
Tue, February 27th, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations due to yesterday’s storm snow combined with moderate to strong winds overnight. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ thick will be possible. Expect loose snow sluffs in steep protected terrain. Additionally, old weak layers deeper in the pack may be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow and [Read More]
Mon, February 26th, 2018	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above treeline due to 6-12″ of new snow expected with wind. Natural storm snow avalanches will be possible and human triggered avalanches likely. The danger will be MODERATE in sheltered areas in the treeline band and below where loose snow sluffs composed of the new snow are expected. Debris could [Read More]
Sun, February 25th, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on slopes above treeline that have seen recent wind loading. Human triggered wind slab avalanches 10-20″ thick are likely to be triggered and natural avalanches are possible. A MODERATE danger exists below treeline where triggering a wind slab in exposed areas is possible. Sluffs, composed of Friday’s snow, are likely [Read More]