April 23, 2018

Strong winds, relatively warm temperatures, and precipitation this week will make for dangerous avalanche conditions in Chugach State Park.

Beware that some popular trails in the park cross dangerous avalanche paths. Even if you’re on flat, snow-free ground be mindful of what’s above you. Are you exposed to steep, snowy slopes or gullies overhead?

The wet snow avalanches of late spring and early summer move much slower than winter’s dry snow avalanches, but wet avalanches pack much more punch. A wet snow avalanche’s nature is that of wet concrete; it doesn’t take much debris for one to be dangerous if caught.

Also, we’re entering the season of rampant alpine rock fall. The chossy Chugach crud is especially dangerous this time of year.

Yesterday, we found ~2-16″ of recent snow in the upper elevations of Eagle River.  In general, recent snow amounts increased with elevation gain and on leeward (primarily northerly) aspects.  More snow and wind loading is expected this week.