| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Unknown | Aspect | Northwest |
| Elevation | unknown | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
| Vertical Run | unknown |
Avalanche: Girdwood
Location: Byron Glacier Trail
Hiked the Byron Glacier Trail to the rock platform. There was a recent cornice fall (observed earlier in the week 4/12) that still looks fresh on the NW facing ridge and reached the valley floor. There remains several VERY LARGE cornices that extend along this ridge further back into Byron Valley and plenty of snow that can still avalanche up high. There is potential for avalanche activity including cornice fall to come close to the end of the established trail. Caution is advised on this trail and traveling beyond the rock platform is NOT RECOMMENDED. The SE facing slope nearest the trail is mostly free of snow and doesn’t pose much of a risk anymore.
*Witnessed a natural avalanche on a NW aspect near Byron Glacier around 3:30pm. Starting zone was out of site, but debris ran to the moraine near the valley floor.
Avalanche Details
Could only see where the debris was flowing over a steep rocky cliff near the bottom of the Byron Glacier. Could not see the slope in which this avalanche started, but was on a Northwest aspect.
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Warm day time temperatures (50F's) and rapid warming from the sun. A HOT DAY for April.
Weather
Sunny
Winds were calm on Byron trail
Temps = 52F
No precip
Recent cornice fall on a ridge leading back to Byron Glacier (NW facing slope)
Trail ends just beyond this sign at a rock platform. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in this area.
Large debris pile near the end of the Byron Glacier Trail, rock platform is on lookers right side of photo. Byron glacier is in the far back of the valley.
Witnessed an avalanche flowing over steep cliffs, near center of photo.
The SE facing slope that is on the lookers right side of this photo has very little snow left.
Some very large cornices have potential to avalanche, especially on a warm day, rainy day or windy day. BUT cornices can release without warning at any time.
Wide angle view of cornices with debris pile below.
Recent cornice fall occurred on the looker left side of this ridge (NW aspect)
The slide path behind this bridge is mostly free of snow (SE aspect)
Byron Trailhead