Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Sat, February 24th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Triggering an isolated wind slab or a more connected persistent slab 1-2′ deep is possible today. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. With new snow and wind in the forecast today pay attention to changing conditions. [Read More]
Fri, February 23rd, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Triggering an isolated wind slab or a more connected persistent slab 1-2′ deep is possible today. Look for moist snow or small point releases on solar aspect where the sun could make slabs more reactive. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be [Read More]
Thu, February 22nd, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick remain possible. Be aware of a few inches of new snow combined with wind that may form fresh isolated wind slabs in the Alpine. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. [Read More]
Wed, February 21st, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick remain possible. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. The Summit Lake area saw more avalanche activity last week. Take a look at the Summit Summary HERE. [Read More]
Tue, February 20th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick remain possible. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Sunshine warming southerly slopes could contribute to instability today. The Summit Lake area saw more avalanche activity last week. Take a look [Read More]
Mon, February 19th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick, and potentially larger, remain possible. These are either shallow old wind slabs or larger slabs that break in weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Sunshine may warm southerly slopes today and could contribute to instability on these aspects. The [Read More]
Sun, February 18th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick or more remain possible. These could be either shallow old wind slabs or larger slabs that break in old weak layers deeper in the snowpack. The Summit Lake area has seen more avalanche activity over the past week. [Read More]
Sat, February 17th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects where triggering an isolated wind slab or larger slab 2 feet deep remains possible. Be aware of radiation from the sun adding additional stress to solar aspects. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow [Read More]
Fri, February 16th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Triggering a slab 2+ feet deep remains possible. Watch for active wind loading, and be aware of shallow wind slabs on leeward slopes and cross-loaded gullies. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow and terrain [Read More]
Thu, February 15th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Human triggered avalanches remain possible. Watch for shallow wind slabs on wind loaded slopes and cross-loaded gullies. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may still be triggered, creating a larger avalanche. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. The danger is LOW below 1,000′ where triggering [Read More]
Wed, February 14th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Triggering a shallow wind slab avalanche will be possible on wind loaded slopes and cross loaded gullies. There is also the possibility for a person to trigger a larger slab that breaks in weak snow 1-2′ deep. The danger is LOW below 1,000′ where triggering [Read More]
Tue, February 13th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above 1000′ due to recent snowfall and strong winds overnight. Human triggered avalanches remain likely. Fresh wind slabs up to 2 feet thick, should be expected on slopes with recent wind loading. Additionally, weak layers deeper in the snowpack may be triggered, creating a much larger avalanche. Below 1,000′ [Read More]
Mon, February 12th, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs	There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above 1,000′ due to snowfall overnight and strong winds. Natural avalanches within the new storm snow are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely. Fresh wind slabs up to a foot thick, and possibly 2 feet thick, should be expected on slopes with recent wind loading. Additionally, weak layers [Read More]
Sun, February 11th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is currently MODERATE and expected to rise to CONSIDERABLE late tonight and tomorrow in conjunction with snowfall and strong wind. For the daylight hours today, wind slabs up to a foot thick along with lingering larger slabs up to 2′ thick will be possible to trigger on slopes with wind deposited snow. [Read More]
Sat, February 10th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ where winds are adding stress to the snowpack. Triggering a shallow wind slab or a deeper slab 2′ thick is possible. Active wind loading, shooting cracks and €˜whumpfuing’ are obvious clues the snowpack is unstable. Additionally in the alpine, above 3000′, the potential for triggering a deeper [Read More]
Fri, February 9th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and Treeline zones where winds may be forming shallow wind slabs and adding stress to persistent slabs 1-2′ deep. If you see blowing snow or shooting cracks avoid leeward terrain features. Additionally watch for unstable cornices along ridge lines. *For the periphery zones, such as Girdwood [Read More]
Thu, February 8th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2,500′ for triggering a slab 1-2′ deep. Watch for cornices along ridgelines and €˜sluffs’ in steep terrain. LOW danger below 2500′ doesn’t mean No danger. Evaluate the terrain for consequences before committing to a slope. *For the periphery zones, such as Girdwood to Portage Valley, and Johnson Pass to [Read More]
Wed, February 7th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2,500′ for triggering a slab 1-2′ deep. Additionally, watch for cornices along ridgelines and sluffs in steep terrain. *For the periphery zones, such as Girdwood to Portage Valley, and Johnson Pass to Summit Lake, more caution is advised where a slab could be larger and more connected. Check out [Read More]
Tue, February 6th, 2018	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2,500′ for triggering a wind slab up to a foot thick. Keep mind the overnight wind loading may have also added stress to older persistent slabs that could break deeper in the snowpack. Additionally, watch for cornices along ridgelines and sluffs in steep terrain. *For the periphery zones, such [Read More]
Mon, February 5th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Although triggering an avalanche large enough to bury a person is unlikely, isolated slabs 1-2′ deep can still be found in steep and/or wind loaded areas. LOW danger does not mean No Danger. Additionally, watch for cornices along ridgelines and sluffs in steep [Read More]
Sun, February 4th, 2018	Persistent Slabs		A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Although triggering an avalanche large enough to bury a person is unlikely, isolated slabs 1-2′ deep can still be found in steep and/or wind loaded areas. LOW danger does not mean No Danger. Evaluate the consequences of terrain before committing to a slope. [Read More]
Sat, February 3rd, 2018	Persistent Slabs		A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Although triggering an avalanche large enough to bury a person is unlikely, isolated slabs 1-2′ deep can still be found in very steep or wind loaded terrain. LOW danger does not mean No Danger and evaluating the consequences of the terrain will be [Read More]
Fri, February 2nd, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Dry Loose	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2,500′ for triggering a slab avalanche 1-3′ thick. Slopes with signs of wind loading will be the most suspect for triggering an avalanche. Additionally, watch for easily initiated loose snow avalanches (sluffs) on steep slopes. Below 2500′ the danger is LOW. Remember low danger doesn’t mean no danger. [Read More]
Thu, February 1st, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Dry Loose	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2,500′ for triggering a slab avalanche 1-3′ thick. Slopes with signs of wind loading will be the most suspect for triggering an avalanche. Additionally, watch for easily initiated loose snow avalanches (sluffs) on steep slopes. Below 2500′ the danger is LOW. Remember low danger doesn’t mean no danger. [Read More]
Wed, January 31st, 2018	Persistent Slabs	Dry Loose	The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1,000′ for triggering a slab avalanche 1-3′ thick. Slopes with signs of wind loading will be the most suspect for triggering an avalanche. Additionally, watch for easily initiated loose snow avalanches (sluffs) on steep slopes. [Read More]