Additional Information

SNOWPACK BIG PICTURE: There is 2-3′ of new snow sitting on a variety of old surfaces from the high and dry previous 2 weeks. Mostly the new snow is bonding well to the old surface; but the further interior (north of 35 mile) now has buried facets and surface hoar. The January 23rd buried surface hoar has been dormant for several weeks. Except for rare, interior, isolated slopes, our avalanche problems are within the new snow or at the new/old interface.

Recent snowpack history, from top to bottom:

March 7-Present: A consistent series of gulf lows have been producing slow and steady precipitation. 1.5″ SWE in Valdez, and 2.1″ at Thompson Pass which produced up to 3′ of new snow. There has been light-moderate south and easterly winds loading north and west faces slightly more than east and south faces. There have been no reports of natural slab avalanches in March, but numerous small wet loose avalanches in steep, low elevation terrain.

Feb 22-March 7: Calm high pressure with overall warm temps (40F in town on multiple days) and only a few hours of moderate north winds. There have been no signs of the Jan 23rd persistent weak layer in the maritime region. There has been widespread surface facet formation; especially further north/interior.

Feb 20-22: High N-NE winds, rapidly transporting any available snow (70mph gusts). In certain places the wind built new slabs and alternatively stripped all the new snow back to old layers and rain crusts. 

Feb 16-18: Over 2″ SWE and 2′ of snow with little wind. 

Feb 7-14: Nearly 0″ new snow and building north winds (70mph NE gusts on Feb 14 at Thompson Pass.) Widespread surface hoar growth up to 6mm. In windy locations, and close to the pass, most of this surface hoar has been knocked down. A ‘drizzle crust‘ formed near the pass up to 5500′ and was observed buried 55cm down on Loveland at 5000’ (on Feb 20.)

Feb 3-6: 0.7″ SWE and 8″ of snow from Valdez to Thompson Pass. 8″ of new snow was recorded at 5500′ on Catcher’s Mitt. Freezing level was sea level throughout this cycle.

Jan 30-Feb 1: Natural avalanche cycle on all aspects above 3000′, up to size D3. Most ran on buried surface hoar.

Jan 28-30: 2″ SWE in Valdez, moderate winds, freezing level 1000′.

Jan 23-25: Multiple days of warm and wet with periods of rain up to 2500′.

Jan 13-22: Mostly clear, cold, and dry with light to moderate north winds. Widespread Surface Hoar growth (up to 15mm) and Near Surface Faceting.

Jan 12-13: 3-10″ of new snow with little wind.

Jan 4-12: was VERY cold and dry: moderate winds and wind chill reaching -50F. Pockets of surface hoar and widespread near surface faceting.

Dec 30-Jan 3: The New Year’s Eve storm brought nearly 2.5″ of SWE to Valdez and almost another 1″ (SWE) on the 2-3rd of January. The rain line was 1200′ during the Jan 2-3 storm, forming a 1-3″ crust locking up all the snow beneath it. These storms accumulated over 3′ above 2000′ near Thompson Pass. Both of these storms had little wind.

Above 4000′ the snowpack averages well over 300cm deep and has good strength and structure (few lemons). Below 4000′, the snowpack is significantly shallower and has old problem layers that are bonding well (rounding) and currently dormant: facet-crust combos and BASEL facets (all the way to sea level). 

If you get out riding, please send in an observation.

Do a rescue practice with your partners. Always carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, and KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. 

Practice good risk management, which means only expose one person at a time to slopes 30 degrees and steeper, make group communication and unanimous decision making a priority, and choose your terrain wisely: eliminating unnecessary exposure and planning out your safe zones and escape routes.