Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Storm Slabs
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 Wet Loose
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Heavy precipitation and strong winds expected in the Eastern Turnagain Arm area today and tonight will increase the avalanche danger to HIGH at the upper elevations and CONSIDERABLE at the treeline elevations. Natural avalanches are likely and could run into snow-free zones below 1,000′ where a MODERATE danger exists. Avalanche activity today will encompass both [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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 Deep Persistent Slabs
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Over the last two days 3 feet of new snow and strong winds have rapidly loaded the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass and created a HIGH avalanche danger in the Alpine zones (above 2,500′). CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at Treeline (1,000′-2,500′) where triggering a wind slab 2-6′ thick is possible today on steep wind-loaded slopes. Sticking [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Up to 2 feet of new snow and strong wind overnight has rapidly loaded the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass and created a HIGH avalanche danger in the Alpine zones (above 2,500′). A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at Treeline (1,000′-2,500′). Natural wind slab avalanches, 2-6′ thick likely occurred overnight and are possible through the day today. [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists both at Treeline and in the Alpine where human triggered windslabs 1-4′ thick are likely on steep wind loaded features. The storm coming in today will bring new snow, rain and wind adding load and building sensitive storm slabs. Natural avalanches will be possible. Cautious route-finding and conservative terrain choices [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Multiple avalanche problems exist in the snowpack at different elevations bands today. A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists both at Treeline and in the Alpine where windslabs 1-4′ will be likely triggered on steep wind loaded features. Today natural activity is not expected in Turnagain Pass, however due to continued stormy conditions and recent rapid loading [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger for Treeline and above is HIGH. A strong storm is impacting the advisory area today. High winds and heavy precipitation including rain are creating dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain where natural avalanches are likely occurring due to rapid loading. Avalanches have the potential to [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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 Cornice
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A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists in the backcountry today above 1,000′. Strong winds and new snow have added substantial weight to a tenuous snowpack with known weak layers where potential exists to trigger a wind slab 3+ feet deep on leeward slopes (West and South). Cornices are also growing quite large and are [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Deep Persistent Slabs
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Heavy snowfall and strong winds are creating a HIGH avalanche danger in the Alpine areas of the backcountry today. A HIGH avalanche danger also exists at all elevations in Portage Valley and Girdwood Valley. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain above treeline where natural avalanches are likely occurring due to rapid loading. At the [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Cornice
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CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists in the Alpine where a human could easily trigger a slab 2-3′ thick in steep terrain. Below 2500′ MODERATE avalanche danger exists where triggering 20 € of low density snow in a terrain trap could have high consequences. Remember this new snow is sitting on a very weak pre-existing surface and [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Cornice
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After an intense period of heavy snowfall added 12-18″ of new snow overnight, we have a HIGH avalanche danger above treeline this morning and a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger at treeline. A MODERATE danger exists below 1,000′ where avalanches occurring from above may run. The new snow fell in conjunction with strong Easterly winds and was [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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 Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger will increase to CONSIDERABLE today as a strong winter storm impacts the advisory area. Periods of heavy snow combined with wind are forecasted. The new snow will land on a weak snow surface in most of the terrain. The hazard could increase quickly. Human triggered avalanches will be likely and natural avalanches [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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 Dry Loose
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists above treeline and in the upper elevations of Turnagain Pass where triggering a slab 2-4′ thick is possible in steep terrain. The Southern side of Turnagain Pass and periphery areas (Johnson Pass, Lynx Creek, Summit Lake) are particularly suspect due to a shallower snowpack. This is a low probability but [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE at and above treeline in the backcountry surrounding Turnagain pass. The possibility remains for a person, or group of people, to trigger a large and dangerous slab avalanche that breaks 2-4′ deep on a layer of near surface facets and/or buried surface hoar within the snowpack. This is a low [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Dry Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE at and above treeline in the backcountry surrounding Turnagain pass. Pockets of lingering wind slabs 1-3′ deep will be possible to trigger after a quick but intense storm dropped 2+ feet of snow on Saturday in the core advisory area. Obvious red flags may be absent today as [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the backcountry surrounding the Turnagain Pass region. Today is the second day after a 15-25+ inch storm and although signs are pointing to a stabilizing snowpack, we are still within the window for possible human triggered slab avalanches. These are most likely to be found on windloaded slopes at, [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger at and above Treeline is CONSIDERABLE. The storm that ended yesterday brought 15+ inches of new snow and sustained winds to Turnagain Pass. Human (skier/rider or snowmachiner) triggered avalanches are likely in steep wind loaded terrain. The potential exists to initiate a slab avalanche 1-4′ deep. Cautious route finding, safe travel [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger will be rising to HIGH today in response to heavy snowfall combined with strong winds in the Turnagain Pass and Girdwood Valley areas. Avalanches occurring naturally are expected at elevations above 1,000′ where new snow and winds are loading the steeper slopes. Human triggered avalanches in these areas are very likely. As [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2000′ where triggering a slab 2-3′ is likely in steep terrain. Cautious route-finding should be used to avoid high consequence terrain features like large open slopes and terrain traps. Remember red flag warnings (recent precipitation, wind loading, warming temperatures, and shooting cracks) were present yesterday and an incoming storm [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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The avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE above and below treeline today. It will be possible for snowmachiners, riders and skiers to trigger dangerous slabs up to 3 feet in depth on slopes at and above treeline. Below treeline, warm temperatures and the potential for rain on the snowpack will make it possible to trigger slabs 1-2′ [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE where loose snow avalanches and tender wind slabs could have high consequences on steep and exposed terrain features. Wind slabs 8-10″ thick will be more likely in the Alpine where poor visibility could make assessing the conditions difficult today. Assess changing surface conditions and be on the look [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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With 6-12+ inches of snow falling on Sunday night/ Monday morning from sea level to ridgetops there is a MODERATE avalanche danger in all elevation bands today. Storm snow instabilities and loose snow avalanches are the primary concern today and are most likely to be encountered in very steep terrain. Ice climbers: Snowfall totals [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Another round of snowfall with upwards of 6″ overnight and strong wind is keeping the avalanche danger at CONSIDERABLE in the upper elevation start zones. Expect wind slab avalanches around a foot thick to be easily triggered on wind loaded slopes. A MODERATE danger exists below 2,500′ for these same avalanches in areas the wind [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE both in the Alpine and at Treeline elevations where a 2-3′ thick slab is sitting on various layers of weak snow. Today is the perfect recipe for an avalanche accident €”it is the opening day of snowmachining in Turnagain Pass plus clear skies following a big storm. Lots of [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists today above treeline. An average of 12 to 24 inches of new snow since Thursday combined with moderate to strong winds in the alpine have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Human-triggered avalanches 2-4′ deep will be likely in upper elevation, leeward terrain where fresh wind slabs sit on top of [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Today a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists in the Alpine and at Treeline. Triggering a slab 2-3′ thick will be likely in steep terrain as additional loading will be adding stress to the snowpack. If venturing into the mountains cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential. *On the Southern end of Turnagain Pass and near Summit [Read More] |