Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Deep Persistent Slabs
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There is a generally LOW avalanche danger in the Turnagain Pass region where triggering an avalanche in unlikely. However, there are areas above 1,500′ that have a poor snowpack structure and there remains the chance for triggering a large slab avalanche (2-5′ thick) that breaks near the ground; this situation is keeping the danger MODERATE. [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger in Turnagain Pass is MODERATE above 1500′ where triggering a persistent slab avalanche 2-4+ feet deep is possible and consequences remain high should you find a trigger spot. Additional avalanche problems to be aware of are wind slabs, cornices and loose snow avalanches – heat from the sun could make these easier [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the advisory area including both Turnagain Pass and Girdwood Valley. Above 1000′ triggering a persistent slab avalanche 2-4+ feet deep is possible and consequences remain high should you find a trigger spot. Two large snowmachine triggered avalanches occured as recently as Friday and both folks involved were uninjured. Heat [Read More] | ||
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the advisory area. Above 1000′ on slopes over 30 degrees, triggering a persistent slab avalanche 2-4+ feet deep is possible and consequences remain high should you find the right trigger spot. Heat from the sun will also be something to monitor and could make wind slabs, cornices and loose [Read More] | ||
 Dry Loose
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 Persistent Slabs
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Point release avalanches triggered by the sun and/or humans on steep slopes with a Southerly tilt will be possible again today. Cornice falls are also possible, and occurred yesterday, with the warm sunny weather. Watch for winds that may pick up today to [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Turnagain Pass area. Above 1000′ on slopes over 35 degrees triggering a wind slab 6″ to 2′ thick is possible on wind loaded slopes. Heat from the sun will also be something to monitor and could make wind slabs, cornices and loose snow avalanches more tender in the [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 Turnagain Pass area. On slopes over 35 degrees and above ~1,000′, it is possible to trigger a wind slab on wind loaded slopes and there is the possibility of triggering a large (2-3′) persistent slab avalanche that breaks lower in the snowpack. In addition cornice falls are still [Read More] | ||
 Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations in Turnagain Pass but could rise to CONSIDERABLE in the alpine by the afternoon. Human triggered wind slabs 6 €-15 € thick are possible on slopes steeper than 35 degrees and slab size will depend on how much snowfall we receive today. There is also the possibility [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Turnagain Pass area. On slopes over 35 degrees and above ~1,500′ there is the possibility for triggering a large (2-3′) slab avalanche that breaks lower in the snowpack. The most suspect areas are on the South end of Turnagain Pass where the snowpack is shallower and there has [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above treeline in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass, Placer Valley and Johnson Pass. Human triggered slab avalanches 2-4′ in depth are likely in areas that have seen little traffic (prior to last week’s storms) and where a shallower snowpack exists (such as the South end of Turnagain Pass). These [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on upper elevation slopes where triggering an avalanche on a persistent weak layer or a wind slab 2-3′ thick is likely and cornices are suspected to have grown large and be tender. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential today. At Treeline and below the danger will [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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HIGH avalanche danger remains in the upper elevation terrain in the Girdwood Valley, Portage Valley and the Kenai Mountains (including Turnagian Pass). Large slab avalanches are expected to occur naturally and debris could run to valley floors. In the mid and lower elevations, a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists where naturally occurring slab avalanches are possible. [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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An Avalanche Warning has been issued for Turnagain Pass, the Kenai Mountains and Western Chugach Mountains and will remain in effect today through 6am tomorrow, Jan.26th. Heavy snowfall, rain and strong winds are creating a HIGH avalanche danger at all elevations in Turnagain Pass today. A HIGH avalanche danger also exists in Portage, Placer and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Wind slab avalanches around 1-3 feet thick will be possible to trigger above treeline on slopes that were loaded over the past few days. In the lower elevations (below 2,000′, such as the Placer Valley area), watch for persistent soft slab avalanches 1-2 [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists in the alpine surrounding Turnagain Pass where triggering a wind slab avalanche up to 2-3 feet thick will be likely on steep leeward slopes. At Treeline and below the avalanche danger is MODERATE where triggering a loose snow avalanche or a soft slab up to 1′ thick is possible. Recent snowfall,15-24 [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass for a variety of avalanche concerns. First, wind slab avalanches around 1 foot thick will be possible to trigger above treeline on slopes that get loaded today and that were loaded over the past two days. Second, on the steeper terrain that has [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass for a variety of avalanche concerns. First, wind slab avalanches around 1 foot thick will be possible to trigger above treeline on slopes that were loaded by winds yesterday and the day before. Second, on the steeper terrain that has seen little wind [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Storm Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the Alpine where triggering a fresh wind slab on leeward terrain is possible and storm slabs could be an issue as the storm progresses throughout the day. If enough snow falls at Treeline and below the LOW avalanche danger could also rise to MODERATE. Watch for changing conditions [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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There is a generally LOW avalanche danger at all elevations today, however there are specific areas in the Alpine that have a MODERATE danger. These are steep slopes where fresh wind slabs may form from today’s increase in Southeast winds. If found, these fresh slabs are likely to be shallow, under a foot thick and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the Alpine where triggering a fresh wind slab on leeward terrain is possible and in protected steep areas loose snow avalanches could be fast moving and run further than expected. At Treeline and below the avalanche danger is LOW where triggering an avalanche is unlikely. ***Placer and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the Alpine where triggering a fresh wind slab on leeward terrain is possible and in protected steep areas loose snow avalanches could be fast moving and run further than expected. At Treeline and below the avalanche danger is LOW where triggering an avalanche is unlikely. ***Placer and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE today in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass at all elevations and on all aspects. Loose snow avalanches are likely on steep terrain and could be fast moving and run further than expected. Triggering a soft wind slab 1-2′ thick is possible on steep terrain features and on unsupported slopes that [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE today in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass at all elevations and on all aspects. Wind slab avalanches will be possible to trigger on slopes over 35 degrees that have been loaded by winds. These slabs are expected to be relatively soft, in the 1-2′ thick range and could be lower [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE today in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass at elevations above 1,000′ and on all aspects. Wind slab avalanches will be possible to trigger on slopes over 35 degrees that have been loaded by winds. These slabs are expected to be relatively soft, in the 1-2′ thick range and could be [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on upper elevation slopes. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ thick are likely on leeward terrain and natural avalanches are possible. In areas unaffected by winds and receiving less snow the danger will be MODERATE where small shallow storm slabs and sluffs in the new snow may be triggered on the [Read More] |