Haines Avalanche Center

Forecast Expired - 04/02/2023

Above 2,500ftModerate

1,500 to 2,500ftModerate

Below 1,500ftLow

Degrees of Avalanche Danger

Avalanche Problems

Problem 1

Wind Slab:

The Bottom Line:

 

The dry snow in the alpine that survived the thaw/freeze event last week is available for wind transport. Combined with new precipitation and recent winds, human-triggered winds slabs will be possible to encounter.

  • Be on the lookout for reactive wind slabs, especially in isolated pockets in the alpine.
  • Blowing snow and cracking or collapsing in drifted snow are clear warning signs of the problem.
  • Sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas can help avoid wind slabs. Also, fresh new loose snow could sluff and carry a rider over cliffs, and rocks or into a terrain trap.
  • Manage your terrain appropriately and verify conditions as you travel.

 

Practice good group management, communication and decision making.

  • Do not ski/ride on the same slope as another person/group.
  • Travel one at a time or with enough spacing so that only one person is exposed to an avalanche path.
  • Always keep eyes on exposed riding partners.

 

Continue to keep wide margins with cornices- Respect the power and trouble they can cause. They often break much further back than expected.

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 2

Deep Slab:

Unlikely to trigger but high consequence deep slab hazards remain in our snowpack. These weak layers are slowly healing, but smaller slides could possibly step down and wake this sleeping dragon.  Especially in steep, complex, or rocky terrain.

 

Layers still providing poor structure in specific areas:

  • Facets below Jan 25 melt-freeze crust ~4-6ft (widespread, up to 4,000 ft)
  • Feb 22nd buried surface hoar layer down ~3-5ft.
  • Jan 10th buried surface hoar.
  • At or near the ground are large, rotten facets– not to be forgotten about.

 

 

 

 

Snow pit from Mar 21 in Transitonal Zone (N aspect 3400ft) showing poor structure and persistent weak layers below the 3/17 snowfall

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Avalanche Activity

March 24: D2 Wet loose slides on numerous solar aspects around rocks/shallow areas all elevations

March 19-23: D3 N-aspect buns of steal near jarvis transitional zone wide propagation (click to enlarge)

D3 NW-aspect ridgeline below Shakuseyi Peak in the lutak zone

Behind old faithful, D2 cross loaded NE aspect, stepped down 2ft deep. Multiple natural D2 wet/dry slides in cross loaded middle elevation slopes near town and in transitional zone.

March 16: Multiple D2 crowns in cross-loaded gullies 1-meter deep on SW-aspect near 3000ft observed in Lutak Zone.

March 7-9: Multiple D2 natural wind slab avalanches in top 45cm, on wind loaded SW, S, SE aspects in the Transitional zone, 3000-4000ft.

March 4-5: Human triggered wind slab D1/D2 at 5-mile creek Chilkat Pass, 2200ft, W aspect

D2-R4 hard slab: Mid-slope propagation, E aspect, in steep wind loaded area, unsupported slope.

D2-R4 New Faithful, W aspect, high alpine

March 2: Small natural soft slabs were observed in steep trees in the Lutak zone. This kind of small to large natural activity is likely widespread in the Lutak zone.

Feb 19-23: 6 different observations of natural avalanches in the transitional zone and in the Chilkat range. The natural D2 slides were on all aspects, a few on lower angle, all running on a mid-snow pack layer, and a majority with widespread propagation.

A larger, D3-R4 natural avalanche was observed near Four Winds on a S, SW aspect, down 60-120cm, it looked like a loose wet slide that maybe stepped down to a lower layer. Widespread propagation.

Feb 9: Glide cracks ~3000-3400′ in the transitional zone on N, NE aspects. Also notable was observation of reloading of bed surfaces on previous slides.

Jan 28: Two D2’s in the Glory Hole. NW-aspect around 3,200′

Jan 25-29th Multiple wide propagating natural slides released.

 

 

Weather

Forecast:

Snow will taper off Saturday, with moderate NW winds by evening. Sunday may feature short a break before another very weak system tries to move in Sunday afternoon. We are in the diurnal temperature swing of things with freezing temps at night and warming to just above freezing in early afternoon in the alpine.

 

Recent Weather Summary:

  • March 26th we had a moderate-strong NW wind event, otherwise diurnal freeze-thaw and light winds for several days in late March
  • March 19-23 brought light precip. with freezing levels around 2000ft and strong south winds
  • March 15-16: 2-4 feet of new snow, strong south winds, and warming temperatures, snow levels reached about 2000ft.
  • March 4-7 strong NW / N outflow event with cooling temps.
  • March 1st brought a strong and cold storm, with 10-15″ of new snow inland, and 30″+ in the Lutak zone.
  • Late Feb 20-Feb 23 a cold high pressure system with moderate to strong N, NW winds
  • Feb 19-Feb 20- warmer, solar effect on south aspects, valley fog on the 19th at ~1500-2000 ft.
  • Feb 12 freezing levels 1250ft
  • Incremental snow (more in Lutak zone) since Feb 5th, periods of moderate S/SE winds
  • Feb 1-4 Near surface facets on top of crust from Jan 25 warm-up
  • Jan 17-26 brought around 5″ of precip (3-5feet of new snow above 3000ft), strong SE winds, and a noticeable warmup
  • Surface Hoar and Near Surface Facet growth Jan 8-10
  • A strong front brought 24-30″ of snow above 2000ft on Jan 2nd.
  • There was widespread Surface Hoar growth on Dec 31st.
  • Complete Season Histories:     Transitional Zone     Lutak Zone

 

 Snow Depth Last 24-hr Snow/SWE Last 3-days Snow/SWE  Today’s Freezing Level   Today’s Winds Next 24-hr Snow/SWE
Mount Ripinsky @ 2,500′  161″  1″ / 0.10″  5″ / 0.40″  100′  light, var   0″ / 0.00″
Flower Mountain @ 2,500′  71″  1″ / 0.10″   3″ / 0.30″  0′  light, var  0″ / 0.00″
Chilkat Pass @ 3,100ft  50″   2″ / 0.15″   6″ / 0.30″  0′  light, var   0″ / 0.00″

 

Additional Information

WEAR A HELMET! Be careful of rocks and hidden hazards. Be prepared for crevasses when on a glacier. 

Are your riding companions trained and practiced in avalanche rescue? Everyone in your group needs to have a beacon, shovel, and probe, and know how to use them. Our mountains have very limited cell coverage, carry an emergency communication device and enough gear to spend the night.

Avalanche Canada’s Daily Process Flow – Utilize this everyday you go out in the mountains.

 

 

Bust out the ropes and sharpen your crevasse and companion rescue skills. Join us Saturday, April 1st from 4:00-8:00pm at the Mosquito Lake Community Center. All ages, free practice, and $15 BBQ plates by Chef Travis Kukull of Malo Nista. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Announcements

Click the +Full Forecast link below for each zone to read more.  If you see any recent natural avalanche activity, or signs of instability please submit an observation. Each observation or center membership gets you entered to win prizes for the Support Raffle.