Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wet Loose
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 Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is expected to remain at MODERATE on slopes above 1,000′ for wet avalanches this weekend. The danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE by the early evening hours in the event of significant daytime warming. Keep in mind the snowpack continues to slowly warm and destabilize as it undergoes the springtime transition. Human triggered [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE for today, but could increase to CONSIDERABLE by early evening. With daily warming human triggered wet avalanches will become possible on solar aspects this afternoon. Natural wet snow avalanches will also become possible later in the day. Additionally glide cracks continue to slowly creep open and can release without warning. [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is expected to remain at CONSIDERABLE for today and through Wednesday. Light rainfall up to 2,500′ along with warm temperatures will continue to produce wet avalanches on all slopes above 1,000′. Several shallow wet loose and wet slabs were seen yesterday and similar conditions are expected for today. Additionally, human triggered wet [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is expected to rise to CONSIDERABLE late in the day on Sunday and into Monday. Warm temperatures continue to soften the snowpack creating a wet avalanche hazard on all slopes over 35 degrees in steepness. Natural wet avalanches may begin to release as early as this afternoon and are expected to occur [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Glide Avalanches
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Very warm temperatures overnight coupled with a warm day ahead will increase the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE on slopes over 35 degrees on all aspects above 1,000′. Wet snow avalanches ranging from small to very large along with cornice falls could being releasing today and activity may increase into the next several days. On slopes [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. On steep Southerly facing slopes in the afternoon and evening, triggering wet slab and wet loose avalanches will be possible as the sun heats up and softens Southerly (SE-S-SW) aspects. Paying attention to aspect and time of day are crucial. Watch for changing conditions as the sun [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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 Deep Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. On steep Southerly facing slopes in the afternoon and evening, triggering wet slab and wet loose avalanches will be possible as the sun heats up and softens Southerly aspects. Paying attention to aspect and time of day are crucial. On Northerly slopes, where dry snow exists, there [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning and will rise to CONSIDERABLE on steep Southerly facing slopes this afternoon and evening. Wet slab and wet loose avalanches will be likely to trigger and natural avalanches will be possible as the sun heats up and softens Southerly aspects. Paying attention to aspect and time of [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE in the morning but will rise to CONSIDERABLE and maybe go to HIGH on steep Southerly facing slopes later this afternoon and evening. As the sun heats up and softens solar aspects during the day, triggering a wet slab or wet loose avalanche will be likely and naturals are [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE and could rise to CONSIDERABLE on Southerly facing slopes later this afternoon and evening. As the sun heats up and softens solar aspects during the day, triggering a wet slab or wet loose avalanche will be possible. On steep Southerly slopes with a thin snowpack, such as where rocks [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations due to a handful of avalanche concerns and springtime condtions. Triggering a large and dangerous deep slab avalanche (3-6′ deep) on slopes over 35 degrees remains possible, but will be hard to trigger. More potential for this problem exists on Northerly aspects above 1500′ that haven’t [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations. There are two main avalanche problems to deal with: 1) The possibility remains for triggering a large and dangerous deep slab avalanche (3-6′ deep) on slopes over 35 degrees. Most likely slopes are those above 1,500′ with a Northerly aspect and harboring cold dry snow. 2) [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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With sunny skies and warm temperatures forecast today, the avalanche danger is expected to increase to CONSIDERABLE this afternoon above 1000′ due to daytime warming. Large and dangerous slab avalanches 2-6+ feet deep remain possible to trigger on slopes steeper than 35 degrees that have not avalanched. Daytime warming will increase the likelihood of triggering [Read More] | ||
 Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger is expected to increase to CONSIDERABLE above 1000′ due to spring time warming. Human triggered avalanches 2-6+ feet deep will become more likely in the afternoon on slopes steeper than 35 degrees that haven’t avalanche already. Triggering a wet loose avalanche or cornice will also be more likely in the afternoon. Careful [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′ due to weak snow sitting under 2-6+ feet of storm snow in Turnagain Pass, Placer Valley and Girdwood. Human triggered avalanches 2-6+ feet deep are likely today on slopes that haven’t avalanched already. The likelihood of triggering will increase during the heat of the day and natural avalanches [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′ due to weak snow sitting under 2-5+ feet of storm snow in Turnagain Pass, Placer Valley and Girdwood. Human triggered avalanches 2-5+ feet deep are likely today and during the heat of the day natural avalanches will be possible Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains HIGH above 1000′ due to a very unstable snowpack in Turnagain Pass, Placer Valley and Girdwood. Human triggered avalanches 2-6+ feet deep are very likely today, and during the heat of the day natural avalanches will be likely. CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists below treeline where a natural avalanche from above could [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Persistent Slabs
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HIGH avalanche danger persists today as another wave of wet, warm and windy weather impacts the advisory area. Natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. If choosing to play in the flats (and rain) today, steer well clear of gullies and the bottom [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Wet Loose
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Rising temperatures, additional rain, snow, and wind will keep the avalanche danger at HIGH again today for the Turnagain Pass area and surrounding mountains. Natural avalanches are still likely at all elevations and human triggered avalanches are very likely. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain. If choosing to play in the flats, make sure [Read More] | ||
 Storm Slabs
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Wet Loose
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A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING has been issued through the National Weather Service for the Turnagain Pass area and surrounding mountains. Another round of rain, snow and wind will keep the avalanche danger pegged at HIGH again today. Large natural avalanches are expected at all elevations while this storm system persists. Travel is not recommended in [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger remains HIGH at all elevations due to strong winds, rain and snowfall in Turnagain Pass, Portage, Placer and Girdwood where natural avalanches 2-5′ thick are likely today. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain where natural avalanches are likely occurring and human triggered avalanches are very likely. Steer clear of gullies and [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains HIGH at all elevations in the mountains and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Continual rain, snow and wind are keeping the snowpack unstable. Natural slab avalanches 2-4′ thick are possible at all elevations and human triggered slab avalanches are likely. These can be large and debris may run to [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger remains HIGH due snowfall, rain and strong winds at all elevations in Turnagain Pass, Portage, Placer and Girdwood Valley where natural avalanches 2-4′ thick are likely today. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain where natural avalanches are likely occurring and human triggered avalanches are very likely. Steer clear of gullies and [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Wet Loose
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Snowfall, rain and strong winds are creating a HIGH avalanche danger at all elevations in Turnagain Pass, Portage, Placer and Girdwood Valley where natural avalanches 2-3′ thick are likely today. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain where natural avalanches are likely occurring due to rapid loading. Steer clear of gullies and the bottom of [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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There remains a HIGH avalanche danger in the Alpine (above 2,500′). Natural wind slab avalanches 2-4′ thick will be likely due to strong winds forecast today in the mountains surrounding the Eastern Turnagain Arm (such as Turnagain Pass, Girdwood Valley and Placer Valley). Below 2,500′ and in areas out of the wind, a CONSIDERABLE avalanche [Read More] |