Happy New Year snow lovers! The Alaska Avalanche Information Center brings you this week’s snow report thanks to Black Diamond and Country Legends.

A relatively warm system moved through southern Alaska this week delivering snow in the mountains and rain at lower elevations. Forecasts predict clearing skies and temperatures dropping throughout Southcentral this weekend. 

Temperature variations like these can produce dangerous avalanche conditions. Hatcher Pass and Valdez forecasters issued warnings denoting considerable avalanche danger.

As systems bring new snow to your favorite areas, be sure to carefully and repeatedly evaluate the snowpack and exercise caution on all slopes steeper than 25 degrees.

Trail conditions are improving and grooming is underway on winter trails on the Parks Highway from Nancy Lake north to Petersville and Cantwell, and north on the Glenn Highway around Eureka and Lake Louise. Heading south to Turnagain you’ll likely encounter high avalanche danger resulting from heavy, wet snow on buried weak layers. 

This Saturday, January 5th the AAIC will be offering a full-day snowmachiners workshop at the Eureka Roadhouse. Join Iron-Dog Champion Chris Olds and AAIC instructors for the day to refresh your backcountry and avalanche safety skills.

Where ever you plan to recreate, always check the forecast to get the latest conditions and learn more or register for workshops at Alaska Snow dot org.

That’s it for this week, learn from the pros and ride smart so you can live to ride another day.