The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) is made up of a team of three full-time professional avalanche forecasters working out of the Forest Service Glacier Ranger District in Girdwood.
They provide avalanche advisories seven days a week in the winter season, while also providing field observations and weather station data. Their forecast area provides avalanche observations and forecasts for areas throughout the Chugach National Forest.
Aleph Johnston-Bloom, a staff avalanche specialist: “We offer information for people who are using the Chugach National Forest. So, the zone that’s defined as our forecast area: Girdwood south through Turnagain Pass to Summit Lake is where our actual advisory covers. Then we try to post observations for areas on the forest beyond that. The majority of the people (who reach out to us) are either backcountry snowmachining or backcountry skiing and snowboarding. People also, sometimes, check it if they’re going hiking or climbing, but the majority of people who use our website are snowmachining, skiing, or snowboarding.”
Their goal is to reduce avalanche accidents by providing information and advice on how to manage different avalanche concerns on a given day. They use their website as well as social media to deliver information.
Not only do they recommend staying informed by their forecasts, but also trying to participate in the Know Before You Go program.
