November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    
November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    
November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    
November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    
MaritimeIntermountainContinental
Forecast as of 11/26/2023 at 09:00 and expires on 11/27/2023

Current Advisory Level

None

Above 3,000ftNone

1,500 to 3,000ftNone

Below 1,500ftNone

+ FULL FORECAST
Forecast as of 11/26/2023 at 09:00 and expires on 11/27/2023

Current Advisory Level

None

Above 4,000ftNone

2,000 to 4,000ftNone

Below 2,000ftNone

+ FULL FORECAST
Forecast as of 11/26/2023 at 09:00 and expires on 11/27/2023

Current Advisory Level

None

Above 4,000ftNone

2,000 to 4,000ftNone

Below 2,000ftNone

+ FULL FORECAST
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Observations

Tell us what you're seeing out there.

Forecast Center Observation

Date2023-12-09
LocationValdez
ObserverLiam
AvalancheN

General Observations

We observed wind slabs and lots of wind affected areas. There were deep deposits of snow and wind loading. As well as storm slab and a potential weak layer. Up top was wind blown and not as fun as the bottom 500 ft of riding.    

 
Date2022-11-24
LocationValdez
ObserverIsaiah Calhoun
AvalancheN

General Observations

Toured up Nick's Happy Valley on Thanksgiving day. Encountered windloading on W-SW aspects and wind effect on E. Otherwise a mostly settled pack with two distinct rain crusts of variable thickness through the valley and a consistent 30-40cms of new storm snow on top. Alders present until 1/2 way up the median moraine. Creek was…

 
Date2022-11-16
LocationValdez
ObserverKyle Sobek
AvalancheN

General Observations

School Bus Pit @ 4000' on the lookers right edge of the School Bus gut. Pit results proved to be fairly stable, but that was for the gut, with a relatively deep snowpack. The rain line from the most recent storm (11/11-11/13) seemed to be around 3200-3500'. Hiked up almost to the Goodwills ridge, up…

 

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Valdez Avalanche Center

Valdez Avalanche Center

Support the education and sharing of avalanche information for mountains surrounding the Port of Valdez to Milepost 65 on the Richardson Highway. Our membership keeps the mission going. Join as a Valdez Avalanche Center member today, or donate directly.

The Valdez Avalanche Center has been providing safety information in the Chugach Mountains surrounding Valdez since 2006. It began as a radio interview discussing snow and avalanche conditions. Locals asked for information they could make plans with. Forecasts are currently issued Friday through Sunday with special alerts for significant weather or avalanche events. Information contained in the forecasts is intended to be used as a tool in conjunction with your personal backcountry hazard evaluation.

Public observations are encouraged and aid the accuracy of the avalanche forecasts in our data-sparse region.

Valdez Avalanche Forecasters

Forecaster with the Valdez Avalanche Center

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Other:

2018/2019 Staff & Volunteers

 

Peter Biskind: Forecaster/Instructor

[email protected]

Peter guides and forecasts on snow year round in Antartica, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and here at home in Alaska. Peter has been teaching avalanche education since 2011 and is a certified AMGA ski guide - guiding in the Chugach since 2015.

Ryan VanLuit: Forecaster

[email protected]

Ryan joins the Valdez Avalanche Center forecasting team this year from Montana.

kyle_sobek

Sarah Carter: Forecaster/Instructor/Valdez Avalanche Center Advisory Board President

[email protected]

Sarah enjoys sharing this beautiful, mountainous corner of the world with her two boys, who love to ride too! She instructs avalanche classes with the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, Prince William Sound College, Backcountry Babes, and UAA.

Kyle Sobek: Instructor/Forecaster

Kyle rides every moment he gets. Kyle and his wife call Tonsina home. He seeks out every opportunity to learn about snow and mountain riding. Kyle works for DOT Ernestine, instructs avalanche courses and forecasts for Valdez Avalanche Center.

Sean Wisner: Rescue Coordinator

Ben Stolen: Observer

Josh McDonald: Observer

Dr. John Cullen, M.D.: Advisory Board Member and Medical Advisor

Will Stark: Advisory Board Member

Will grew up in Little Tutka Bay, across Kachemak Bay from Homer and attended college at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  After obtaining his bachelors degree he entered the management training program with First National Bank Alaska.  In 1997, the bank offered him a job opportunity in Valdez; over the last 20 years, the bank and Valdez have treated him well and he is proud to be associated with both.  Valdez has provided his wife, Erin, and Will an exceptional place to raise their two children, Liam and Noah.  In Valdez they have made great friends and find the town has the perfect mix of ocean and mountains with unparalleled access to both.  Will says he is honored and humbled to provide what help he can to the Valdez Avalanche Center.

Rich Loftin: Advisory Board Member

Kyle Klause: Advisory Board Member

vacant: Advisory Board Member

Interns:

2016 Josh Hege & Bobby Lieberman
2015-2016 Kyle Sobek
2014 Kevin Salys
2014 Monica Morin
2013 Dusty Reed
2012 Katreen Wikstroem
2011 Sam Benoit
2010-2012 Ethan Davis
2009 Jordan Pond
2009 Brad Deringer
2008 Elise Leahy

Sponsors

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Thanks to all our members and community supporters!

Valdez Gallery

Tailgate Alaska at Thompson Pass

Tailgate Alaska at Thompson Pass

hybrid users are common in Valdez

hybrid users are common in Valdez

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Powder!

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Surface Hoar

Thompson Pass Terrain

 

Thompson Pass Terrain