Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Persistent Slabs
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There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in the mountians surrounding Turnagain Pass, Girdwood Valley and Summit Lake on the Kenai. New snow and strong wind yesterday have loaded a very weak layer of faceted snow and human triggered avalanches are likely on all slopes above 1,000′. Slab avalanches ranging from 10-20″ could be triggered remotely [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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 Cornice
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Strong winds along with several inches of new snow is expected to bump the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE. This will be in the Alpine elevations that see over 5″ of snow accumulation. In these areas, fresh wind slabs up a foot thick may release naturally. Terrain that sees only 2-4″ of snow, this could include [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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There is a HEIGHTENED MODERATE avalanche danger at all elevations in the mountains around Turnagain Pass. Very sensitive wind slabs have formed over the past 24 hours due to 3-7″ of new snow and moderate winds. These slabs are shallow, around 4-10″ thick due to the low snow amounts, but are expected to be easy [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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 Dry Loose
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Generally the avalanche danger will be LOW today throughout the advisory area. However, if areas see more than about 6 € of new snow and winds in the 20’s mph range, the danger will rise to MODERATE where a skier could kick off a fresh, shallow wind slab. This is more likely in [Read More] | ||
 Announcement
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass where triggering loose surface snow could be fast moving, enough to knock you off your feet in steep terrain. Popping out an old wind slab sitting on faceted snow, breaking off a chunk of cornice or triggering a larger €˜outlier’ avalanche are all in [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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A LOW avalanche danger remains in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Popping out an old wind slab sitting on faceted snow, breaking off a chunk of cornice or triggering a larger slab avalanche are all in the realm of ‘unlikely possibilities’. Most suspect terrain will be steep slopes further away from the road corridor and [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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LOW avalanche danger remains in the mountains around Turnagain Pass. Although triggering an avalanche is unlikely, there remains the possibility for kicking off a small wind slab or cornice as well as a larger avalanche, the latter would be an outlier. The most likely place to find one these will be in the terrain further [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain Pass zone. Triggering a 1-2′ avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. The most suspect slopes are in steep terrain at the high elevations where someone just might be able to break off an old wind slab or find a slope with the [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain Pass zone. Triggering a 1-2′ avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. The most suspect slopes are in steep terrain at the high elevations where someone just might be able to break off an old wind slab or find a slope with the [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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Persistent Slabs
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists across all elevations bands for the Turnagain Pass zone. Triggering a 1-2′ avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. The most suspect slopes are in steep terrain at the high elevations where someone just might be able to break off an old wind slab or find a slope with the [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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There remains a MODERATE avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass for triggering a slab avalanche 1-2′ thick. The most suspect slopes are those that are steep, in areas less traveled and have a ‘stiff’ feel to the snow underfoot. Additionally, watch for new/old wind slabs in steep rocky terrain that could release, knocking [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists on all aspects above 2000′ where triggering an avalanche 1-2+’ thick is possible on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Triggering an isolated wind slab avalanche is also possible today near ridgetops that have been loaded by winds over the past week. Below 2000′ in the trees where the snow is [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all slopes near and above treeline. Triggering a slab avalanche 1-2+’ thick is still possible and the likelihood goes up as one travels to areas that have had less traffic this season. This is due to a buried layer of surface hoar that remains reactive. Additionally, triggering a wind [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE in the alpine where trigging a fresh wind slab up to 1′ thick will be the most tender on steep leeward terrain features. Triggering a larger slab avalanche 1-2+’ thick is also possible on all aspects and the likelihood goes up as one travels to steeper slopes that have [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all slopes near and above treeline. Triggering a slab avalanche 1-2+’ thick is still possible and the likelihood goes up as one travels to areas that have had less traffic this season. This is due to a buried layer of surface hoar that remains reactive. Additionally, triggering a wind [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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There remains a MODERATE avalanche danger on all slopes near and above treeline. Triggering a slab avalanche 1-2+’ thick is still possible and the likelihood goes up as one travels to areas that have had less traffic this season. This is due to a buried layer of surface hoar that remains reactive. Additionally, triggering a [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass at all elevations above 2,000′ and on all aspects. Wind slab avalanches around a foot thick will be possible to trigger on slopes loaded by blowing snow. Larger slab avalanches are also possible in areas less traveled where a weak layer remains in the [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass at all elevations above 2,000′ and on all aspects. Wind slab avalanches around a foot thick will be possible to trigger on slopes loaded by the new snow from Wednesday night. Larger slab avalanches are also possible in areas less traveled where a weak [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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 Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. New snow and sustained winds have loaded a weak snowpack. Triggering a slab 1 – 2 feet thick is likely. Cautious routefinding and conservative decision-making will be essential. ***Observations from the Summit Lake area on the Kenai are showing a similar snowpack. Weekly summaries will begin tomorrow, December 2nd. [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger will start out as MODERATE in the alpine, and could easily increase to CONSIDERABLE throughout the day depending on how much snow falls. Triggering a slab 1 – 3 feet thick will become likely if we receive the higher snowfall amount, up to 15 inches. Cautious route choices and conservative decision making [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger continues in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Slab avalanches 1-2 feet thick may be triggered on all aspects and elevations above 1,500 feet. Watch for fresh wind slabs to form today along ridgelines as Northerly winds are expected to increase. Slabs may also be triggered in sheltered areas with softer snow [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in both the alpine and at treeline on all aspects due to a widespread layer of buried surface hoar. Human triggered persistent slab avalanches 1-2 feet thick are possible today. Triggering an isolated wind slab to is also possible on steep features near ridgetops. Caution and safe travel protocol is [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in both the alpine and at treeline on all aspects due to a widespread layer of buried surface hoar. Human triggered slab avalanches 1-2 feet thick are possible today and will have higher consiquences on larger slopes. Also triggering an isolated windslab up to 6″ thick is possible on steep [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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 Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in both the alpine and at treeline on all aspects due to a widespread layer of buried surface hoar. Human triggered slab avalanches 10-20 € thick are possible. Be extra aware of changing weather conditions and any additional stress being added to the snowpack today. If the forecasted wind and [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Glide Avalanches
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The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE in the alpine on all aspects due to a widespread layer of buried surface hoar. Human triggered slab avalanches 10-20 € thick are likely and may release on lower angled slopes. Be extra aware of changing weather conditions and any additional stress being added to the snowpack today. [Read More] |