Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Tue, February 23rd, 2016	Wind Slabs	Cornice	A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists today in the alpine where fresh wind slabs will be of concern after a potent storm delivered 3-4+ feet of new snow in the alpine between Saturday and Sunday. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making will be essential today if venturing into the alpine. Today will warrant hyper-vigilance [Read More]
Mon, February 22nd, 2016	Storm Slabs	Cornice	The avalanche danger continues to be HIGH in the Turnagain Pass and surrounding mountains. Between 3 and 4+ feet of heavy snow has fallen in less than two days resulting in very large and widespread avalanche activity. Today, the storm has abated but dangerous avalanche conditions still exist. Large natural avalanches, running to the valley [Read More]
Sun, February 21st, 2016	Storm Slabs	Cornice	An Avalanche Warning has been issued for the backcountry areas of Turnagain Pass and Girdwood Valley with the National Weather Service. This warning is in effect all day, Feb.21 through tomorrow, Mon, Feb.22 at 6am. An intense storm will continue today in Turnagain Pass where the avalanche danger remains HIGH both in the Alpine [Read More]
Sat, February 20th, 2016	Wind Slabs		A MODERATE avalanche danger exists today for fresh wind slab avalanches and cornice falls in the Alpine terrain. Wind slabs, up to 1 foot thick, will be possible to trigger on wind loaded slopes due to strong winds along ridgetops overnight and continuing today. At the mid-elevations, glide avalanches remain a concern where any one [Read More]
Fri, February 19th, 2016	Cornice	Glide Avalanches	Overall generally stable avalanche conditions exist in the advisory area but with the widespread glide cracks in popular recreation terrain in the Treeline (1000′-2500′) elevation band and continued reports of large naturally occurring cornice falls in the Alpine, the hazard remains at MODERATE. In addition, lingering pockets of wind slab and loose snow avalanches may [Read More]
Thu, February 18th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Cornice	Today a MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the Alpine (above 2500′) where cornices and lingering wind slabs may prove tender today with recent wind loading and increased sun exposure. At Treeline elevations (below 2500′) the danger is MODERATE where it is necessary to plan your route to avoid being underneath glide cracks and cornices. [Read More]
Wed, February 17th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Cornice	The avalanche danger remains MODERATE today in the Alpine (above 2500′) where lingering wind slabs 1-3′ deep may prove reactive in steep terrain greater than 35 degrees. Skiers/snowmachiners, direct sun or cornice fall are all likely triggers, particularly later in the day when daytime temperatures peak. In the Treeline elevation band (1,000′ €“ 2500′) [Read More]
Tue, February 16th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Cornice	Avalanche danger remains MODERATE today in the alpine (above 2500′) where lingering wind slabs 1-3′ deep may prove reactive in steep terrain greater than 35 degrees. Skiers/ snowmachiners, direct sun or cornice fall are all likely triggers, particularly later in the day. It’s that time of the season here in south central Alaska where [Read More]
Mon, February 15th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	Following a three-day storm a MODERATE avalanche danger exists in Turnagain Pass. In the Alpine (above 2500′) be aware of very large cornices and lingering wind slabs 1-2′ thick on leeward terrain features. At treeline glide avalanches continue to threaten large amounts of steep real-estate on all aspect below 2500′. The travel advice for glide [Read More]
Sun, February 14th, 2016	Glide Avalanches	Wind Slabs	There is a MODERATE avalanche danger in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass for a variety of avalanche problems. First, glide avalanches, that release on their own, are possible at the Treeline elevation band (1,000-2,500). Second, human triggered wet loose avalanches will be possible at this same Treeline band. Third, Wind slab avalanches, up to 2′ [Read More]
Sat, February 13th, 2016	Glide Avalanches	Wet Loose	There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger for both wet avalanches and glide avalanches at the mid-elevations (1,000′ – 2,500′). This is due to rain-on-snow and warm temperatures that are weakening the snowpack. Above 2,500′, in the Alpine terrain, we also have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger for storm snow avalanche issues. Human triggered wind slab avalanches [Read More]
Fri, February 12th, 2016	Glide Avalanches	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE for both wet avalanches and glide avalanches at elevations between 1,000′ and 2,500′. This is due to rain-on-snow and warm temperatures that are weakening the snowpack in this mid-elevation band. Above 2,500′, in the Alpine terrain, we also have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, where human triggered wind slab avalanches are [Read More]
Thu, February 11th, 2016	Wet Slab	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE for both wet avalanches and glide avalanches at elevations between 1,000′ and 2,500′. This is due to rain-on-snow that is weakening these mid-elevation bands. Above 2,500′, in the Alpine terrain, we have a MODERATE avalanche danger for wind slab avalanches. Fresh wind slabs up to a foot, or more, thick [Read More]
Wed, February 10th, 2016	Cornice	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today above treeline where it will be possible to trigger wind slabs 1-2′ thick on steep leeward slopes. Avoid travel on or under cornices and steer clear of glide cracks. Watch for changing conditions as the next storm impacts the region. [Read More]
Tue, February 9th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today above treeline where fresh wind slabs 1-2′ thick will be possible to trigger on freshly wind-loaded slopes. Cornices are also of serious concern in the alpine as they are large and tender right now. In the mid-elevation band, glide cracks are numerous and avalanching full depth, generally [Read More]
Mon, February 8th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	There is a MODERATE avalanche danger at the upper elevations around Turnagain Pass for fresh wind slab avalanches. Slab avalanches up to a foot thick will be possible to trigger on slopes that have been, or are being actively, loaded by winds. At the mid-elevations, watch out for glide cracks and stay out from under [Read More]
Sun, February 7th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	A MODERATE avalanche hazard exists throughout the advisory area. Human triggered avalanches are possible. Signs are pointing to a stabilizing snowpack but there is still the need for elevated caution as it adjusts to the load of the recent storm. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify features of concern. Please use safe travel protocols, [Read More]
Sat, February 6th, 2016	Storm Slabs	Glide Avalanches	There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in the Turnagain Pass region at elevations above 1,000′. It is expected that triggering a slab avalanche 2-3’+ feet thick will be likely on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. This is due to weak snow sitting under 2-3′ of new snow. Cornice falls are likely as well which could [Read More]
Fri, February 5th, 2016	Storm Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche hazard is HIGH above 1000′. Large natural and human triggered avalanches are likely today. Over 3″ of water (+3′ of snow above 1500′) has fallen since Tuesday night and is resting on weak snow over a crust. This set-up combined with strong winds and warm temperatures have created very dangerous conditions in the [Read More]
Thu, February 4th, 2016	Storm Slabs	Glide Avalanches	Today the avalanche danger is HIGH in the Alpine (above 2500′) where natural avalanche activity is likely due to high winds and heavy precipitation. A CONSIDERABLE danger exists at Treeline where natural glides avalanche and wind slabs +3′ thick are possible and could easily entrain wet snow below 1500′. Below treeline (1000′) a MODERATE danger [Read More]
Wed, February 3rd, 2016	Storm Slabs	Glide Avalanches	Today the avalanche conditions will be increasing as a storm moves into our region. Right now a MODERATE danger rating still applies to the Alpine and Treeline elevations where wind slabs will be developing throughout the day. Should this storm intensify beyond the forecasted 6 €, avalanche danger may reach CONSIDERABLE by late afternoon. Be [Read More]
Tue, February 2nd, 2016	Cornice	Dry Loose	Even though our snowpack is mostly stable in the Turnagain pass region, there are a few outliers that are keeping the danger at MODERATE today as both cornices and glide avalanches continue to act in unpredictable manners. Fast moving, high volume sluffs and the potential for shallow, fresh wind slabs will also add to [Read More]
Mon, February 1st, 2016	Cornice	Glide Avalanches	Although a generally LOW avalanche danger continues in most areas of the Turnagain Pass region, we have enough exceptions that combine for a MODERATE overall hazard at all elevations. These exceptions are: 1) Shallow fresh wind slabs may form today with a bump in winds at the higher elevations. 2) Cornices remain prime to fall [Read More]
Sun, January 31st, 2016	Cornice	Glide Avalanches	Although a generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the Turnagain Pass region, there are a few exceptions that are keeping areas of ‘yellow’ in the picture. These are cornice falls, lingering wind slabs, glide avalanches and sluffs. First, a MODERATE danger exists along ridgelines where human triggered (or natural) cornice falls are possible and could [Read More]
Sat, January 30th, 2016	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine and at Treeline where a variety of isolated avalanche problems linger. Above 2500′ it will be possible to trigger wind slabs 1-3′ thick on steep unsupported terrain features. In the Treeline elevation zone (1000′-2500′) glide cracks litter all aspects and can release without warning. In addition [Read More]