Fall 2018 – Early Season Backcountry Travel Preparation
Issued: Mon, Oct 22, 2018 at 8AM
Expires: Wed, Oct 31, 2018
A lot of snow has accumulated at the tops of our Valdez Chugach peaks. Get ready for your winter backcountry adventures with the tips in our 'Problem Details' section below.
While you're waiting for the snow to get deep enough to ride, read our ISSW poster.
Above 2,500ft None
1,800 to 2,500ft None
Below 1,800ft None
Problem Details
A lot of new snow has accumulated above 4000' elevation; over a foot of rain and snow water equivalent accumulated at 2500' elevation at Thompson Pass since Oct 18. The ground surface roughness in the avalanche start zones is smoothed over with dense excellent base. Cooler temperatures are making a good bed surface for future avalanche activity. Are you ready for winter? A few tips to get you and your riding buddies ready to shred:- Replace the batteries in your avalanche beacon. Check your avalanche probe for wear or breaks in the cable. Check your avalanche shovel, do you have both the shaft and blade in working order?
- Plan a fun avalanche rescue practice with your riding partners. Is everyone on the same page for a fast, efficient rescue?
- Is there a fresh, charged cartridge in your avalanche airbag pack? Go ahead and give it a test pull - does it deploy properly?
- Fitness - reduce the possibility of injury on your first ride/outing - start now by improving your flexibility, strength, and cardio.
- Check your skis and snowboards: missing binding screws? burrs on your edges? need wax?
- Check your snowmachine oil, plugs, belt, brakes, and headlight.
Recent Avalanche Activity
Numerous new snow point release avalanches to size 2 have run in the upper elevations, above 3000' elevation, most recently with the storms of October 15-20. See reports in our public observations.Recent Weather
The snowline starts at Thompson Pass. It is estimated over 20 feet of snowfall has accumulated at 6000' elevation.Additional Info & Media
Fall 2018 – Early Season Backcountry Travel Preparation
Issued: Mon, Oct 22, 2018 at 8AM
Expires: Wed, Oct 31, 2018
A lot of snow has accumulated at the tops of our Valdez Chugach peaks. Get ready for your winter backcountry adventures with the tips in our 'Problem Details' section below.
While you're waiting for the snow to get deep enough to ride, read our ISSW poster.
Above 2,500ft None
1,800 to 2,500ft None
Below 1,800ft None
Problem Details
A lot of new snow has accumulated above 4000' elevation; over a foot of rain and snow water equivalent accumulated at 2500' elevation at Thompson Pass since Oct 18. The ground surface roughness in the avalanche start zones is smoothed over with dense excellent base. Cooler temperatures are making a good bed surface for future avalanche activity. Are you ready for winter? A few tips to get you and your riding buddies ready to shred:- Replace the batteries in your avalanche beacon. Check your avalanche probe for wear or breaks in the cable. Check your avalanche shovel, do you have both the shaft and blade in working order?
- Plan a fun avalanche rescue practice with your riding partners. Is everyone on the same page for a fast, efficient rescue?
- Is there a fresh, charged cartridge in your avalanche airbag pack? Go ahead and give it a test pull - does it deploy properly?
- Fitness - reduce the possibility of injury on your first ride/outing - start now by improving your flexibility, strength, and cardio.
- Check your skis and snowboards: missing binding screws? burrs on your edges? need wax?
- Check your snowmachine oil, plugs, belt, brakes, and headlight.
Recent Avalanche Activity
Numerous new snow point release avalanches to size 2 have run in the upper elevations, above 3000' elevation, most recently with the storms of October 15-20. See reports in our public observations.Recent Weather
The snowline starts at Thompson Pass. It is estimated over 20 feet of snowfall has accumulated at 6000' elevation.Additional Info & Media
Fall 2018 – Early Season Backcountry Travel Preparation
Issued: Mon, Oct 22, 2018 at 8AM
Expires: Wed, Oct 31, 2018
A lot of snow has accumulated at the tops of our Valdez Chugach peaks. Get ready for your winter backcountry adventures with the tips in our 'Problem Details' section below.
While you're waiting for the snow to get deep enough to ride, read our ISSW poster.
Above 2,500ft None
1,800 to 2,500ft None
Below 1,800ft None
Problem Details
A lot of new snow has accumulated above 4000' elevation; over a foot of rain and snow water equivalent accumulated at 2500' elevation at Thompson Pass since Oct 18. The ground surface roughness in the avalanche start zones is smoothed over with dense excellent base. Cooler temperatures are making a good bed surface for future avalanche activity. Are you ready for winter? A few tips to get you and your riding buddies ready to shred:- Replace the batteries in your avalanche beacon. Check your avalanche probe for wear or breaks in the cable. Check your avalanche shovel, do you have both the shaft and blade in working order?
- Plan a fun avalanche rescue practice with your riding partners. Is everyone on the same page for a fast, efficient rescue?
- Is there a fresh, charged cartridge in your avalanche airbag pack? Go ahead and give it a test pull - does it deploy properly?
- Fitness - reduce the possibility of injury on your first ride/outing - start now by improving your flexibility, strength, and cardio.
- Check your skis and snowboards: missing binding screws? burrs on your edges? need wax?
- Check your snowmachine oil, plugs, belt, brakes, and headlight.
Recent Avalanche Activity
Numerous new snow point release avalanches to size 2 have run in the upper elevations, above 3000' elevation, most recently with the storms of October 15-20. See reports in our public observations.Recent Weather
The snowline starts at Thompson Pass. It is estimated over 20 feet of snowfall has accumulated at 6000' elevation.Additional Info & Media
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.
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. The information has grown into the Valdez Avalanche Forecast, presented in a four day forecast. Locals asked for information they could make plans with. The experimental four day outlook gives forecasters’ best estimate of how the weather will affect and change the snow. Just like the extended weather forecast, the first day of the forecast is the most accurate. Generally, the forecasts expire 24 hours after issue, unless updated. The forecasts are updated daily during the winter season. Early season and late season forecasts are issued as needed.
Public observations are encouraged and aid the accuracy of the avalanche forecasts in our data-sparse region.
Area Resources
- Northeast Prince William Sound NWS Weather Forecast
- Middleton Island Radar for Valdez area
- GOES Alaska water vapor satellite loop
- NOAA NWS Recreational spot forecast for Thompson Pass
- Thompson Pass MP 25.7 RWIS weather station 2740' (Mesowest)
- Valdez Marine Ferry Terminal weather station sea level
- Nicks Happy Valley above MP 30 weather station 4200' (scroll to Nicks Valley)
- Upper Tsaina River Snotel near MP 32 1750'
- Sugarloaf Snotel 551'
- Above Valdez Glacier Cryosphere program weather station 6600' <map here>
- Valdez Blueberry Weather Plot observations (scroll to bottom: Valdez City)
- More Mountain Weather resources for Alaska
- GFS 16 Day Model for Valdez
- Model Average Meteogram for Valdez
- Windty
Interactive Maps (Google Maps or Earth) with
Layers (Names & Resources) of our 3 Forecast Zones:
Maritime, Inter-Mountain and Continental
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
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