A Backcountry Avalanche Warning was issued by the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center in Girdwood.
The warning is in effect till 6:00 a.m. January 12, 2021. Affected areas include the Western Chugach and Kenai Mountains in and around Girdwood, Portage, Turnagain Pass, Summit Lake, Lost Lake and Seward. The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center reports the avalanche danger is high.
The center cites the recent heavy snowfall and rain combined with strong winds as the reasons for the Backcountry Avalanche Warning. The recent weather created widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human triggered and natural large avalanches are likely on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Debris from avalanches above may run into valley bottoms.
Backcountry travelers should stay off of and out from underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees such as the Byron Glacier Trail and the Seattle Ridge Uptrack. Even small terrain features could act as deadly terrain traps. Avalanches may run long distances. Avoid avalanche terrain. Outside of the backcountry, roof avalanches are likely, pay attention to children, people and pets under roofs shedding snow.
Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of avalanche centers. Visit www.avalanche.org for your nearest avalanche center and to learn more about how to identify avalanche hazards.
This Avalanche Warning doesn’t apply to ski areas or highways where avalanche reduction measures are performed.
For more backcountry avalanche information visit www.cnfaic.org.
