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 is HIGH on all aspects and elevations today. 1-2′ of new snow sits on weak snow. Both natural and human triggered loose snow and slab avalanches are likely. More snow fell in Portage, Placer and Girdwood Valley than on Turnagain Pass, avalanches will be larger in those areas. Travel in avalanche terrain [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger will start at MODERATE at all elevations this morning, and will increase to CONSIDERABLE by early afternoon. The forecast is calling for 6-12 € of snow and ridge top winds as of 7am have increased into the 15-25mph range, (higher than originally forecasted.) Triggering a fresh storm slab 1-2′ thick or fast [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations this morning. A chance for 2-4″ of new snow today along with light wind is not expected to increase the avalanche danger. However, if snowfall rapidly increases, and more than 6″ accumulates, the avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE for loose snow avalanches and shallow slab avalanches. [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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In Turnagain Pass there is a LOW avalanche danger in the backcountry at all elevations. Remember LOW danger does not mean NO danger. Be aware of fast moving €˜sluff’ where getting knocked over could have high consequences. In the afternoon on solar aspects triggering a wet loose avalanche may be possible should the snow become [Read More] | ||
 Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects and elevations today. Triggering a slab avalanche 1-2′ thick or loose snow avalanche is possible on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Sunny skies and warming afternoon temperatures could make Southerly slopes more avalanche prone later in the day. Watch for changing conditions. Avoid travel on or under [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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 Dry Loose
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2′ thick are possible on all aspects. These are mostly likely to be found on Southerly slopes later in the day as the snow warms with direct sunshine. Other likely places to find a slab will be [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees and at all elevations. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2+’ thick are possible in areas that saw a foot or more of new snow from over the weekend. Triggering fast moving loose snow €˜sluffs’ will also be possible in steeper terrain. There are a few [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes 35 degrees and steeper at all elevations. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2+’ thick are possible in areas that saw a foot or more of new snow from over the weekend. In the steeper terrain, expect to trigger loose snow sluffs that could run far. There are a few [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE in the Placer Valley and Portage Valley regions where up to 2 feet and more of snow fell on Sunday, March 19th. This new snow is sitting on a very weak base and human triggered slab avalanches 2-3′ thick are likely on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Warming afternoon temperatures [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all aspects and elevations today. 1-3′ of new snow sits on weak snow. Triggering a slab avalanche and/or loose snow avalanche is likely on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Warming afternoon temperatures and a chance of sunny skies will make natural avalanches possible. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger could rise to MODERATE today on all aspects and elevations. New snow is falling on very weak snow. Triggering storm slabs and loose snow avalanches will be possible in steep terrain. Watch for changing conditions. Avoid travel on or under cornices and give glide cracks a wide berth. Summit Lake, Johnson [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger remains LOW in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible on steep wind loaded features and in extreme terrain. Be aware of old hard wind slabs and fast moving €˜sluff’ in steep terrain where getting knocked over could have high consequences. Limit your exposure [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible on steep wind loaded features and in extreme terrain. Be aware of old hard wind slabs and fast moving €˜sluff’ in steep terrain where getting knocked over could have high consequences. Cornices and glide [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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Avalanche danger remains LOW today at all elevations across the advisory area. Triggering an avalanche is unlikely though still not impossible. Steep, wind-loaded features do have all the ingredients for an outlier avalanche. Very steep (extreme) terrain may also produce fast-moving loose dry sluffs. Cornices and glide cracks also deserve a [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible on steep wind loaded features and in extreme terrain. Pay attention to any recent wind loading and be aware of old hard wind slabs and loose dry avalanches(sluffs) in steep terrain, as well as [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible on steep wind loaded features and in extreme terrain. Be aware of old hard wind slabs and loose dry avalanches(sluffs) in steep terrain, as well as large cornices. Glide cracks continue to open – [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible on steep wind loaded features and in extreme terrain. Surface warming on East-through-Southwest-facing slopes due to radiation from the sun could make triggering an old wind slab or wet loose avalanche possible in the [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is still possible on steep wind loaded features similar to wind slab triggered yesterday on a SE aspect of Seattle Ridge. Surface warming on East-through-Southwest-facing slopes due to radiation from the sun could make triggering an old [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible. With today’s daytime warming watch for East-through-South-through-West-facing slopes to heat up enough to initiate rollerballs and possibly some shallow wet loose avalanches. Other things to watch for are old hard wind slabs in steep [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible. Today’s main question is daytime warming. Watch for East-through-South-through-West-facing slopes to heat up enough to initiate rollerballs and possibly some shallow wet loose avalanches. Other things to watch for are old hard wind slabs [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger is LOW at all elevations. Avalanches are unlikely today. Exceptions to this are possible, mainly in the form of old wind slabs, loose snow avalanches and cornice falls. Big alpine terrain and steep slopes in the lower elevations will be the most likely places to encounter these issues. Remember [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the backcountry at all elevations. Although this means triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it is not impossible and concerns are: triggering an old hard wind slab in steep rocky terrain, loose snow sluffs on steep slopes with soft snow and cornice falls. The glide cracks on Seattle Ridge continue [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger is LOW at all elevations. Avalanches are unlikely today. Exceptions to this are possible, mainly in the form of old wind slabs, loose snow avalanches and cornice falls. Big alpine terrain and steep slopes in the lower elevations will be the most likely places to encounter these issues. Remember [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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There is a LOW avalanche danger on all aspects and at all elevations in the Turnagain Pass area and surrounding mountains. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it will still be possible to get a small wind slab avalanche to release as well as loose snow avalanches (sluffs) in the steep terrain. Remember to give [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger remains in the Alpine of Johnson Pass/Lynx Creek and parts of the Girdwood Valley, where wind loaded slopes have the potential to step down and trigger a deeper avalanche. It is these periphery areas that are keeping the danger elevated in our forecast zone. In Turnagain Pass, there is a [Read More] |