Regular forecasts will resume in December 2019. Your observations are invaluable to provide increased safety throughout the advisory area!
Share your field observations with the community HERE.
Get your winter brain on by changing out your beacon batteries, practicing rescue skills with your riding buddies, and thinking about how you will plan and prepare to make good decisions in the backcountry this winter.
Regular forecasts will resume in December 2019. Your observations are invaluable to provide increased safety throughout the advisory area!
Share your field observations with the community HERE.
Get your winter brain on by changing out your beacon batteries, practicing rescue skills with your riding buddies, and thinking about how you will plan and prepare to make good decisions in the backcountry this winter.
Regular forecasts will resume in December 2019. Your observations are invaluable to provide increased safety throughout the advisory area!
Share your field observations with the community HERE.
Get your winter brain on by changing out your beacon batteries, practicing rescue skills with your riding buddies, and thinking about how you will plan and prepare to make good decisions in the backcountry this winter.
Regular forecasts will resume in December 2019. Your observations are invaluable to provide increased safety throughout the advisory area!
Share your field observations with the community HERE.
Get your winter brain on by changing out your beacon batteries, practicing rescue skills with your riding buddies, and thinking about how you will plan and prepare to make good decisions in the backcountry this winter.
Current Advisory Level
NoneAbove 2,500ftNone
1,800 to 2,500ftNone
Below 1,800ftNone
Current Advisory Level
NoneAbove 2,500ftNone
1,800 to 2,500ftNone
Below 1,800ftNone
Current Advisory Level
NoneAbove 2,500ftNone
1,800 to 2,500ftNone
Below 1,800ftNone
Forecast Center Observation
| Date | 2019-11-03 |
| Location | Valdez |
| Observer | Sarah Carter |
| Avalanche | Y |
General Observations
Noticed a few glide releases in Maritime and Transition zones. Mostly south aspects, except a couple westerly facing steep slopes between 3000-4000' elevation. Photo: below Catcher Mitt and Schoolbus gully.
| Date | 2019-10-29 |
| Location | Valdez |
| Observer | Sarah Carter |
| Avalanche | Y |
General Observations
Rain to ridgetops. Some wet loose avalanches to size above 3000' in steep terrain.
Support the education and sharing of avalanche information for mountains surrounding the Port of Valdez to Milepost 65 on the Richardson Highway. Our membership keeps the mission going. Join as a Valdez Avalanche Center member today, or donate directly.
The Valdez Avalanche Center has been providing safety information in the Chugach Mountains surrounding Valdez since 2006. It began as a radio interview discussing snow and avalanche conditions. Locals asked for information they could make plans with. Forecasts are currently issued Friday through Sunday with special alerts for significant weather or avalanche events. Information contained in the forecasts is intended to be used as a tool in conjunction with your personal backcountry hazard evaluation.
Public observations are encouraged and aid the accuracy of the avalanche forecasts in our data-sparse region.
2018/2019 Staff & Volunteers
Peter Biskind: Forecaster/Instructor
pbiskind@alaskasnow.org
Peter guides and forecasts on snow year round in Antartica, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and here at home in Alaska. Peter has been teaching avalanche education since 2011 and is a certified AMGA ski guide - guiding in the Chugach since 2015.
Ryan VanLuit: Forecaster
RVanLuit@alaskasnow.org
Ryan joins the Valdez Avalanche Center forecasting team this year from Montana.
Sean Wisner: Rescue Coordinator
Ben Stolen: Observer
Gareth Brown: Observer
Josh McDonald: Observer
Dr. John Cullen, M.D.: Advisory Board Member and Medical Advisor
Rich Loftin: Advisory Board Member
Erica Shirk: Advisory Board Member
DB Palmer: Advisory Board Member
Interns:
2016 Josh Hege & Bobby Lieberman
2015-2016 Kyle Sobek
2014 Kevin Salys
2014 Monica Morin
2013 Dusty Reed
2012 Katreen Wikstroem
2011 Sam Benoit
2010-2012 Ethan Davis
2009 Jordan Pond
2009 Brad Deringer
2008 Elise Leahy
Sponsors
Thanks to all our members and community supporters!
Valdez Gallery
Tailgate Alaska at Thompson Pass
hybrid users are common in Valdez
Powder!
Surface Hoar
Thompson Pass Terrain
