Turnagain Pass Archives
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 Storm Slabs
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With up to a foot of new snow falling overnight accompanied by moderate winds, we have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above 1,000′. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are LIKELY on slopes over 35 degrees. These will be most pronounced in wind loaded terrain where slabs 1-2′ thick have formed. The new snow [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine. Winds that blew Monday night into Tuesday morning have created shallow slabs in leeward areas. The most suspect slopes are in steep terrain at the high elevations where the winds have deposited additional snow. Look for changing conditions as snow and wind impact the advisory area [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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 Persistent Slabs
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Triggering an 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 a slab 1-2′ thick. LOW danger does not mean no danger. Good travel habits, [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Triggering an 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 a slab 1-2′ thick. Good travel habits, such as exposing one person at a [Read More] | ||
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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. In steep terrain near rocks where the snowpack is thinner triggering a slab 1-3′ thick is unlikely, but could have high consequences. Ease onto steep slopes one at a time and be mindful of people below you and on adjacent [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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Weak snow exists in upper elevations of the advisory area where the avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′. As you move up in elevation a persistent weak layer can be found at the base of our snowpack and human triggered avalanches are possible. All areas below ~2,500′ are exhibiting LOW avalanche danger as temperatures [Read More] | ||
 Dry Loose
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The majority of terrain in the heart of Turnagain Pass has a generally LOW avalanche danger, this includes the upper elevations. Areas of MODERATE danger exist both on very steep slopes and in terrain within the ‘periphery’ forecast zones, such as Girdwood Valley, Silvertip and Summit Lake on the Kenai. *Weak snow near the [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The overall avalanche stability in Turnagain Pass continues to trend towards LOW danger, however with the variability in snowpack depth and structure, a MODERATE avalanche danger still exists in the Alpine. Human triggered avalanches may be possible in steep terrain above 2500′. Practice safe travel techniques, ease into terrain one at a time and look [Read More] | ||
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Normal Caution
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Over the last few days avalanche stability in Turnagain Pass has been trending towards low danger, however with limited information and incremental loading a MODERATE avalanche danger still exists in the Alpine. Human triggered avalanches may be possible in steep terrain above 2500′. Practice safe travel techniques and ease into terrain one at a time, [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the upper elevations of the advisory area. Human triggered avalanches may be possible in steep, wind-loaded terrain above 2500′. Practice safe travel techniques and ease into terrain one at a time, look for signs of instability before committing to steep slopes greater than 35 degrees. Below 2500′ the danger [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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There is a MODERATE avalanche danger today in the upper elevations of the advisory area. Human triggered avalanches may be possible in steep, wind-loaded terrain above 2500′. Practice safe travel techniques and ease into terrain one at a time, looking for signs of instability before committing to steep slopes greater than 35 degrees. [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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 Wet Loose
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine elevations today. The recent series of storms has added 1-3′ of snow and the sustained winds have loaded leeward slopes. Pockets of wind slab may be sensitive to human triggers in upper elevation starting zones today. Ease into steeper terrain, practice safe travel techniques and look for [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Wind Slabs
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CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists both in the Alpine and at Treeline. Due to a four day rain event wet saturated snow up to 3′ thick could be triggered below 2500′. At higher elevations heavy snow is sitting on top of cold weak snow below making it possible to trigger a large slab avalanche up to [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Storm Slabs
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For the Turnagain Pass, Girdwood and Summit Lake (Kenai) regions a HIGH avalanche danger remains. Another storm moved through overnight adding 12-18″ of heavy snow at the upper elevations and rain below 2,500′. This, accompanied by winds gusting to 109mph, will continue to destabilize the snowpack. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. A [Read More] | ||
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Storm Slabs
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A HIGH avalanche danger exists in the Turnagain Pass and Girdwood regions where over a foot of new snow combined with strong wind has created an unstable snowpack. Natural and human triggered slab avalanches (roughly 2′ thick) are likely. A MODERATE danger exists in snow-free gullies and runouts below 1,000′ where debris can run from [Read More] | ||
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Wet Loose
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Storm Slabs
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Avalache conditions in the Turnagain Pass area are expected to increase tomorrow and throughout Thanksgiving Day. This is in response to rain, snow and wind in the forecast. With this in mind, tomorrow (Wednesday), may be a good day to write your ‘black friday’ list and avoid the rain at Turnagain. Check back in at [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Sunday, November 22nd UPDATE: After a series of storms dropped 8-10+” of snow late last week, skiers and snowboarders hit the backcountry yesterday (Saturday). What they found were VERY sensitive wind slabs; the winds not only blew during the storm, but continued on Saturday actively loading slopes. Several human triggered avalanches were reported in the [Read More] | ||
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Saturday, November 21st UPDATE: After a much-anticipated series of storms rolled through the past several days, the Girdwood, Turnagain and Summit areas have picked up a total of 6-10″ of new snow. Last night’s pulse added roughly 6″ at the mid-elevations in Girdwood Valley and 4″ in the Turnagain and Summit areas. Winds have been [Read More] | ||
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Thursday, November 12th UPDATE: As most of you know, it’s been COLD and clear for a week now. The snowpack in and around Turnagain Pass has been stable with no avalanche activity; other than a few small glide avalanches, more on that below. This is all about to change Wednesday night as the fourth [Read More] | ||
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Thursday, November 12th UPDATE: Current Snow and Avalanche Conditions: Turnagain Pass: The third snowfall of the season hit Turnagain Pass last night (Wednesday) and added 4-5″ of snow at the mid-elevations. Our snowpack is slowly growing! The new snow was accompanied by strong Easterly ridgetop winds and for folks headed out, watch for areas [Read More] | ||
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Update for Tuesday, November 10th, 2015: If you are headed North to Hatcher Pass PLEASE see hatcherpassavalanchecenter.org. Hatcher Pass received upwards of 18″ of snow between Sunday night and Monday night. The avalanche danger is high in this region. *Note: the Independence Mine snotel station was struck by lightning this summer and the data is [Read More] | ||
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Avalanche update for Friday Nov 6th: A quick hitting storm on Thursday, Nov 5th has dropped 12-15″ of new snow above treeline in the Turnagain Pass area; smaller amounts below treeline and at the road. Strong winds accompanied the new snow, which has likely formed large drifts and wind slabs. This is a classic “rapid [Read More] | ||
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WELCOME TO THE 2015/16 WINTER SEASON!! The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center is gearing up for the much-anticipated €˜El Nino’ season of 2015/16; This has started off with a Halloween treat of around 4″ of snow at Turnagain Pass. We will be issuing intermittent updates during the next few weeks on this page as well [Read More] | ||
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The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center will be in the office and beginning the 2015/2016 season on November 1st. [Read More] | ||
 Announcement
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Announcement
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We are no longer issuing daily avalanche advisories for 2014/15; however, this does not mean that the avalanche season has ended – see below for some SPRINGTIME TIPS and SEASON SUMMARY. We would like to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have submitted observations this year. They are invaluable [Read More] |