Cracked Ice: around 4,000 ft. we triggered a surface hoar avalanche on a NW facing slope with approximately 45cm crown. Starting zone was not steep and slide ran fast. Lots of similar avalanches nearby. 

The snow has buried alot of the alders on the hillside across from the Trims DOT camp, enough that bushwhacking is entirely avoidable. We stayed in the trees and found 6-8in of low angle wind protected powder, it looked wind affected above treeline.  There were some small 1-3″ windslabs isolated on north-west facing convexities which […]

Rainy Hallow at Haines Pass had recent natural avalanche activity on multiple aspects. At 3500′ on N-aspect fresh wind slab 1-3′ deep ran 300′ x 1200′. This could have been triggered by a cornice fall and ran over buried surface hoar. Variable spring conditions with increasing elevation and snowpack layering. 

Out on the Castner Glacier with the Alaska Alpine Club before heading up to Triangle Peak. Saturday was stormy and gusty, Sunday and Monday were beautiful bluebird days. There was 10-20cm of powder everywhere that didn’t seem to be too wind affected. We dug 3 pits this weekend.  Pit 1: about 2 miles up the […]

Shallow crown observed on SE aspect ~3000 feet above Chilkat Lake. Likely triggered by point realest from above. Numerous point releases on all aspects above tree line in Transitional Zone. 

Lower Benzene Alley   clear sky, strong north wind flagging peaks, -2C to 0C Fresh avalanche activity from during the storm plus actively loading windslab avalanches. We watched a D2 windslab avalanche from afar release on a convexity at about 4000′ on south aspect of Mile High peak above town. We toured up to about 700′ […]

Widespread avalanche activity from Port valdez to Thompson Pass. D1-D2. Slides involved new snow only, no step downs or deeper releases observed. Most released during storm near ridgetops, rock-bands, rollovers.  Thompson pass: Numerous D1-D2+ Slides mostly in the main corridor. Most releases where on windloaded SW slopes. Considerable activity durring storm on or near little […]

3/5- Dayville trees up to 1000’/Heavy snow/ Calm/ 31° F Shooting Cracks- Yes  Collapsing-Yes Avalanches-Yes, numerous natural D1’s and several D2’s on steep low elevation terrain failing at the new snow old snow interface.   Found very unstable snow conditions with long shooting cracks observed while skinning and extensive pre existing natural cracks extending hundreds […]

Observed a large, basin wide, all aspects slide that extended from approximately 2500’ down to Chilkoot Lake.  The debris field was extensive (20’ x 30’ high in places) and over a quarter mile wide with the tops of trees and full trees knocked down all the way to the lake shore.  Slide appeared to have occurred […]

Approximately  4800’ – SW Aspect.  Triggered a wind slab avalanche 100’ x 100’ on a rollover.  Was able to ski out of it.  General conditions were hard stable snow with 4-6” fresh light snow on top.  Some wind loading apparent in areas.  

Catchers Mit Parking Lot 2340’/28F/Whiteout-Obscured/Strong SE Winds/Heavy snowfall/Intense Blowing snow. Observed heavy drifting and wind loading on leeward aspects (NW) with drifts deep enough to get stuck in. Immediately noticed shooting cracks and reactive surface snow on small test slopes “parking lot burms.” Skinned around on the flats and found surface hoar buried March 3rd […]

Lutak Zone, 3:00pm, 2350 ft, N aspect, no precipitation, overcast, light south wind, ski/ boot pen 8 / 26cm, -5 C  2mm surface hoar, began seeing SH formations at 1000ft breakable crust style skiing CTC down 3cm       ECT SC 24 down 29cm