News

Springtime Avalanche Hazard – News Release, April 16, 2021

Unseasonably warm temperatures over the Chugach National Forest are creating dangerous avalanche conditions during hot and sunny afternoons/evenings. We have issued a SPECIAL AVALANCHE BULLETIN through the National Weather Service that will be in effect through Sunday, April 18th. This bulletin may be extended pending weather conditions. Natural avalanches are expected to release naturally on southerly facing slopes at all elevations during the afternoons and evenings when sunshine is rapidly warming the snowpack. Debris may be large enough to run...

Avalanche accidents in an unusual season: Looking back from the middle of 2020/21

The 2020/21 season has been a difficult year for avalanche fatalities in the U.S. As we enter the beginning of March, 33 people have died in 25 avalanche accidents. This is a grim number, already ranking as the 6th deadliest season since 1925/26 and on track to be the deadliest season since then if we follow monthly historical trends. There are multiple factors at play that are working against us this season. Likely the biggest contributing factor is the widespread...

Bear Point Avalanche Accident

The preliminary report from the Bear Point avalanche accident has been posted. https://www.cnfaic.org/accidents/27764/ On February 2nd, three climbers ascending a 2,500 foot steep and narrow gully on the northwest face of Bear Point were caught, carried and partially buried in an avalanche that released near the top of the gully. All three climbers were killed. This report was primarily compiled by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. Thank you to this group of volunteers, the Alaska State Troopers, the AST Aviation...

Recording of Forecaster Chat #4 is up: Head on a Swivel! Snowmachine Specific.

See link below to the recording of our snowmachine specific discussion with Graham Predeger and snowmachine educator and rider Tim Thomas from Haines! https://youtu.be/gOORr0oCnFo Topics: Good riding habits, what they are and how we can use them to keep us safer in the backcountry. Including a look into what makes a good riding partner. What does it mean to ride 'effectively solo'? We'll look at recent accidents that could have been avoided with simply following some basic good habits and...

Recording of Forecaster Chat #3- How the Sausage is Made: What goes into an avalanche forecast?

In case you weren't able to join us (or if you wanted to revisit part of the conversation), you can watch Forecaster Chat #3 here. A big thank you goes out to Karl Birkeland, director of the National Avalanche Center, to join us for a discussion involving the North American Avalanche Danger Scale, the process of avalanche forecasting, and how to put an avalanche forecast to use. Thanks also to everybody that asked all of those good questions, it made...