ChugachNationalForest

AvalancheInformationCenter

2016-2017AnnualReport

Photo:HeatherThammcapturesavarietyofpersistentweaklayersthatplaguedourregionthisseason.

ChugachNationalForestAvalancheInformationCenterCNFAIC.org145ForestStationRoadGirdwood,AK99587 Phone:(907)783-3242

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TableofContents

MessagefromtheDirector………………………………………………..………………………..3

Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………..……………...4

AdvisoriesandStatistics..……….………………………………………………..…………….……5

PublicOutreach.……………………………………………………………………………..……........6

InternshipProgram…………………………………………………………………………………..10

Partnerships………….………………………………………………………………………..……......11

SnowpackandWeatherSummary………..……………………………………..……..…….13

FatalitiesandNearMisses…….…………………………………………………………….....…21

FinancesandFundraising-TheFriendsoftheCNFAIC……………………….……...25

CirculardebrisflowfromalargewetavalancherunningintothePlacerValley.Photo:GrahamPredeger

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MessagefromtheDirectorAftersevenseasonswiththeChugachNationalForestAvalancheInformationCenter(CNFAIC),I

countmyselfasverylucky.Thisismydreamjob,Igettoworkwiththemostamazing,selflessgroupofindividualsfromallaspectsofwinterbackcountryuse-colleagues,theprofessionalavalanchecommunity,publicusers,dealersandindustryprofessionals.Thelistgoeson!Wearefortunatetoreportthatdespiteanuncharacteristicallytrickysnowpack,Alaskawasundertheyearlyaverageofthreeavalanchefatalitiesthisseason,thoughwearesadtoreport,justbarely.OnesnowmachinerlosthislifeinanavalanchenearCooperLandinganda4-yearoldgirlsuccumbedtoinjuriesfromaroofavalanchenearFairbanks.ManyclosecallswerereportedacrosstheState.OneofwhichwasadeepslabtriggeredbyasnowmachineronaslopeIhadriddenearlierthatsameday.MoreontheseincidentsintheFatalitiesandNearMissessection.

TheinternalworkingsattheCNFAICaresteadilygrowing.Thisseasonthecenterwelcomedbackallreturningstaffmembers.HeatherThamm,whowestolefromtheAlyeskaSkiPatrolSnowSafetyteam,isalongtimeGirdwoodlocalandprofessionalphotographer.Whatwouldwedowithoutherexceptionalphotosthatglossourobservationsandadvisories?AlephJohnston-Bloomcontributeswiththewiderangeofskillsshedevelopedasa15-yearveteranofprofessionalavalancheeducation,forecasting(backcountryandDOT)andskipatrolling.GrahamPredegertookabitmoreofabackseatthisseasonbutcontinuedtoassistwithoutreacheventsandforecastingoperationsasneeded.AlexMcLainhasbeenaProObserverintheSummitLakeareasincethefoundingofCNFAICin2001,andcontinuestokeepusapprisedofhappeningsintheSouthernKenaizone.IbeganworkingwiththeCNFAICin2010/11,havingmentoredwiththeUtahAvalancheCenterandearningaMSinAtmosphericScienceattheUniversityofUtah.

Lookingbackonthisseason,manymemorableoccasionscometomind.Inreflection,theyarebasedonpublicbuy-inandappreciation.Irecalloneeventinparticular.InlateNovemberwehostedasnowmachine-specificeveningtalkatAlaskaDivingandMiningSupply.Weexpected20-30ridersforthisearlyseasoneventand120+showedup!Theeveningfocusedondiscussingthreesnowmachineavalanchefatalitiesfromthepastfewyears.Theseeventswerestillclearlyrememberedasmanyattendeeswereintimatelyinvolved.Thegroupknewthedetails,tookthereins,gotseriousandtoldtheirstories.Theydiscussedwhattheywishedtheyhaddonedifferently,whattheydidright,andwhat

theywantedeveryfutureridertoknow.Itwasapowerfuleveningandgotsignificantattentiononsocialmediaafterward.I'dliketothinkthatmomentslikethissavelivesdowntheroad.Thatiswhyweareinthisbusiness.

-WendyWagner,CNFAICDirector

CNFAICForecastersareallsmilesafterastaffavalancherescuetrainingsession!PicturedfromlefttorightareAlephJohnston-Bloom,WendyWagner,HeatherThammandinternConradChapman.Photo:JaimeAndersen.

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Acknowledgements

Italmostgoeswithoutsaying:Stayingsafeinavalancheterrainisacommunityeffort.Fromthepublicusertotheavalancheprofessional,thenfurthertoindustryandcorporations,andon.Toallofyouthathavebecomemembers,writtenobservations,attendedfundraisers,donated,THANKYOUimmensely!!Thisisthefoundationwecontinuetobuildupon.Wewouldalsoliketothankournon-profitarm,theFriendsoftheCNFAIC.TheirtirelessworkisaconduittothecommunityandwewouldNOTbeherewithoutthem.Pleaseseethe“FinancesandFundraising”sectionattheendofthereportforspecificsontheFriendsgroup!

WhenwegetdowntobusinessattheAvalancheCenterassessingsnowstabilityandavalancheconditions,theentitieslistedbelowareabsolutelyintegralforproducingaccurateavalancheforecasts.Wewouldliketoextendaspecialthankyoutothefollowingorganizationsandindividualsforsharingvaluableinformationandinsight:

• AlaskaDOT&PF• AlyeskaSkiPatrolandSnowSafety• ChugachPowderGuides• AlaskaRailroad• AlaskaAvalancheSchool• AlaskaPacificUniversity• Theover150publicuserswhosubmittedsnow/avalancheobservationsthroughourwebsite

Thank you to the Girdwood Brewery for hosting the 2017 Observer Appreciation Night. Invited guests

were public users and professionals that submitted five or more observations during the season!!

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AdvisoriesandStatisticsThisseasonstartedwithintermittentupdatesduringNovemberuntilourfirstadvisorywasissuedonNovember19th.Thismarkedthestartofdailyadvisories,whichlastedthroughApril16th.Forthelasttwoweeksoftheseason,wepostedadvisories4days/weekwithafinaladvisoryonApril29th.TheSummitLakeWeeklySnowpackSummarycontinuedthisseason.ItwaspostedonSaturdaymorningsstartinginearlyDecemberandrunningthroughearlyApril.

AdvisoriesTurnagain:163(withdangerratings,doesnotincludeearlyseasonupdates)SummitWeeklySummaries:20OfficialWarningsAvalancheWarnings:4 SpecialAvalancheBulletins:1WebsiteTotalvisitsNov-Apr:391,380UniquevisitorsNov-Apr:137,371

*compareto2015/2016TotalVisits:328,181Uniquevisitors:76,909

ObservationsTotal:529ChugachNF:430HatcherPass:63Public:292Pro:51(notincludingCNFAICstaff)CNFAICStaff:186

*compareto2015/20162014/2015:Total:445Total:320ChugachNF:347HatcherPass:71Public:212Pro:43(notincludingCNFAICstaff)CNFAICStaff:193

InstagramTotalpostsperseason:109Followers:3,458

*compareto2015/16

Totalpostsperseason:104Followers:2,240

FacebookLikes:4,056

YouTubeVideos:44Views:7,575OutreachTotalpeoplereached:1,433 RescueWorkshops:150(3workshops) Youthreached:169TraditionalMediaAppearancesTV-oncamera:8,Radio:20Print/Onlinenews:16

AlephJohnston-BloomspeakstoChannel2newsaboutupcomingdangerousavalancheconditions

inMarch

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PublicOutreachTheCNFAIChadanothersuccessfulseasonofavalancheoutreachtothemotorizedandnon-motorizedcommunities.Wecontinuedwithour“FiresideChat”format,whichoffersfreetopicbasedavalanchepresentationstothepublic.These“Chats”werehostedatvariouslocationsincludingAlaskaMiningandDivingSupply(AMDS),SkiAK,REI,Blue&GoldBoardshop,PowderHoundSkiShop,theAlaskaAvalancheSchoolandtheGlacierRangerDistrict.Topicscoveredwerenavigating/understandingtheCNFAICwebsite,IntrotoAvalancheRescue,IntrotoMountainWeather,theStateoftheTurnagainSnowpack,UnderstandingAvalancheProblemsandSnowmachineAvalancheAwareness.CNFAICstaffalsocontinuedtoofferfreehands-on‘RescueWorkshops’,includingoneincollaborationwiththeHatcherPassAvalancheCenter,forthe3rdyearrunning.Theoutreachtablelistedbelowshowsthevarietyofteachingopportunitiesthatthestaffparticipatedin.Somehighlightsinclude120+snowmachinersattendinganearly-seasonpresentationatourlocalSkiDooshop,AMDS.Riderssharedpersonalstorieswithavalanchefatalitiesanddiscussedcommonmistakesoftenmadeinavalancheterrain.Abigemphasisofthetalkwashowtorecognizeavalancheterrainandhowto“GetOutofHarm’sWay“.GrahamandAlephassistedwithanewawarenesseveninginSoldotna.ThiseventwashostedbyTheFlatsBistroandorganized/ledbySeanThomasSullivan(a.k.a.“Sully”).Over70KenaiPeninsulasnowmachiners,skiersandsnowboardersattended.Lastly,youthoutreachisgrowing.AlephcollaboratedwiththreeotherwomenfromtheChugachNationalForeststafftoteach120girlscoutsaboutavalanchesattheWomenofScienceandTechnologydayatUAA.

AfullhouseturnoutatAlaskaMiningandDivingforasnowmachinespecificgatheringtodiscussleasonslearned.

Photo:NickOlzenak

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PublicOutreach(Continued)

Roughly75backcountryusersjoinedCNFAICfortwobasicAvalancheRescueWorkshosatTurnagainPassthisseason.

AlephJohnston-BloomwithtwoGirlScoutsattheWomeninScienceandTechnologyDayinAnchorage.

HeatherThammdiscusseswhathappens“Ifyouarecaught”atthePowderHoundSkiShopinGirdwood.

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Date Location Outreach Type Presenter Ppl Audience

10/27/2016 ENSTAR Basic Awareness Graham 25 Mixed 10/29/2016 AMDS AMDS Open House Event Wendy/Aleph 50 Snowmachine

11/4/2016 APU Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop

Wendy, Graham, Heather, Aleph 200 Professionals

11/7/2016 Loussac Library Snow Fest Aleph, Heather 10 Mixed 11/8/2016 Ski AK CNFAIC fx zone and products Aleph 20 Skiers/ mixed 11/9/2016 JBER Emergency Management Talk Wendy 37 Mixed

11/10/2016 REI Basic Avalanche Awareness Talk Heather 55 Skiers/ mixed

11/22/2016 Blue/Gold Basic Awareness- Understanding Advisory Aleph 40 Mixed

11/30/2016 AMDS Lessons learned/Case studies Wendy, Heather 120 Snowmachine

12/4/2016 Soldotna Basic Awareness Alex McLain 28 Mixed 12/6/2016 Ski AK Turnagain Pass Weather Wendy 35 Mixed

12/10/2016 Girdwood Library BC Babes Level 1 class - navigating advisory Aleph 10 Skiers

12/15/2016 Powder hound Fireside chat - Rescue Heather 30 Skiers/mixed 12/18/2016 Seward Library Basic Awareness Alex McLain 28 Mixed

12/20/2016 Blue/Gold Basic Awareness- snowpack talk Aleph 30 Mixed

1/8/2017 Flats Bistro Assist with Basic Awareness Sully w Aleph/Graham 70

Snowmachine/mixed

1/12/2017 AAS Fireside chat - awareness and snowpack Heather 15

Snowmachine/mixed

1/14/2017 Hatcher Pass Rescue Workshop Wendy, Aleph 75 Snowmachine/mixed

1/20/2017 Turnagain APU Winter skills course Heather 15 Skiers

1/21/2017 Turnagain Rescue Workshop Wendy, Aleph, Graham 35

Snowmachine/mixed

1/22/2017 Girdwood Beacon and Eggs at Alyeska Wendy 24 Skiers

1/28/2017 Campbell Science Center Winter Trails Day Aleph 200 Mixed

1/30/2017 Anchorage American Meteorological Association Wendy 13 Mixed

2/4/2017 UAA Women in Science Workshop Aleph 120 Girl Scouts 2/8/2017 Seward School Intro to Avalanches Alex McLain 23 Youth 2/9/2017 Seward Bear Creek Fire Dept., SAR Alex McLain 14 Firefighters

2/11/17 Turnagain Rescue Workshop Aleph, Heather, Wendy 40 Mixed

2/18/17 Girdwood Library BC Babes Level 1 - intro to avalanche fx Aleph 10 Skiers

3/1/17 Seward HS Science of Avalanches Alex McLain 18 Youth 3/4/17 Seward Library Basic Awareness Alex McLain 8 Youth 3/7/17 Ski AK Rescue/State of Snowpack Wendy 12 Skiers 3/12/17 Jr Patrol/Alyeska About CNFAIC Heather 15 Skiers

3/31/17 Girdwood, GRD APU Snow Science: Intro to CNFAIC Aleph 8 Skiers

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SouthcentralAlaskaAvalancheWorkshop(SAAW)

OnNovember7thCNFAIChostedthe4thAnnualSouthcentralAlaskaAvalancheWorkshop(SAAW)inpartnershipwithAlaskaPacificUniversity.Thisworkshophasbeenapopulareventwithintheprofessionalcommunityasanopportunitytonetworkandcontinueprofessionaldevelopment.SAAW’saudienceincludeslocalagencyforecasters,skiguides,skipatrollersandavalancheeducators.Wealsohaveanassortmentofpublicrecreationalistsandactivecommunitymemberswhoparticipateyearly.Thisseasonweopenedtheafternoonsessionsfreetothepublic–abighitwithover150attendants.ThefinancialsupportfromtheAmericanAvalancheAssociationProfessionalDevelopmentGranthasallowedthiseventtobesustainablewhilemakingitpossibletoinviteaguestpresenterfromoutsideourcommunityeachyear.ThisyearUtahAvalancheCenter’sDrewHardestypresentedontwotopics:ExpertIntuition,UncertaintyandPatternRecognitionandhisthoughtsonFreedomandAnarchyintheBackcountry.

SAAWSpeakerscapturethecrowd’sattention.Fromupperlefttoright:DrewHardesty(UtahAvalancheCenterforecaster),JocelynCramer(AlaskaPacificUnv.Student)andConradChapman(Unv.OfAlaska

Fairbanksstudentand2017CNFAICIntern).Photos:HeatherThamm/AlephJohnston-Bloom

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InternshipProgramThisseason’sInternshipProgramrecipientwasConradChapmanfromFairbanks,Alaska.ConradembeddedwiththeforecastingteamfromearlyJanuarythroughMarch.Hebecameanintegralmemberoftheteamwithhisgenuineenthusiasmandcuriosity.ConradisabornandraisedAlaskanwhobecameinterestedinsnowthroughmountaineering,snowmachiningandthedesiretounderstandsnowprocesses.HeisafoundingmemberoftherecentlyformedgrassrootsEasternAlaskaRangeAvalancheCenter(ERAC)basedinFairbanks.HewasinterestedintheCNFAICinternshiptogainexposuretoprofessionalavalancheforecastingandexperienceadifferentsnowclimate.ConradtookasemesterofffromhisEarthScienceStudiesattheUniversityofAlaskaFairbankstoparticipateintheinternship.Conrad’sinternshipprojectandfocuswastodeveloptheobservationandwritingskillsnecessarytoproducetheSaturdaySummitSummary.Eachforecasterworkedwithhiminthefieldandofficesharingtheirpersonalmethodsfortargetinginformationanddevelopingfocusedquestions.Conradworkedonhisattentiontodetail,snowpitcraftsmanship,snowpackassessment,photographyandclearlycommunicatinghisthoughtsonsnowpackstability.Itwasapleasuretoseetheimprovementovertheseasonandhowmuchheappreciatedtheexperience.ConradsuccessfullywrotetheSummitSummarythroughoutthemonthofMarch.

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Partnerships

TheCNFAICreliesheavilyonitsvastarrayofpartners,bothwithintheprofessionalavalanchecommunityandoutside.Localpartnersinclude:AlaskaDOTAvalancheProgram,AKRRAvalancheProgram,AlyeskaSnowSafety,ChugachPowderGuides,AlaskaAvalancheSchool,HatcherPassAvalancheCenter,AlaskaPacificUniversityandtheNationalWeatherService.OtherpartnersincludeAlaskaMiningandDivingSupplyforprovidingthestaffa“loanersled”forthe5thyearinarownowandBeadedStream/KCIfortheTincanSnowStudyplotandmore.

NickOlzenak,AlaskaMiningandDivingSupply(AMDS)owner,presentsthekeystoabrandnewloanerSkiDooSummitSP850G4snowmachinetoCNFAIC’sGrahamPredeger.This‘loaner’programishostedbyBRPand

facilitatedbyAMDS.

BeadedStreamandKastelerConsulting,Inc.(KCI)workedwiththeCNFAICtoinstallandmaintainasnowtemperaturearrayandsnowdepthsensoronTincanRidgeduringthefallof2016.ThisequipmentbringsMUCHNEEDEDsnowfallandsnowdepthinformationtoforecasters-amongstmanyotherbenefits!TheinstrumentationisdonatedbyBeadedStreamandthehardware,installationandmaintenanceisprovidedbyKCI.Thankyoutothesetwoentities!!

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Partnerships(Continued)

CNFAIC,AKDOT,CPGandAlyeskaforecasterstalkweatherandweatherproductsatthe

NationalWeatherServiceofficeinAnchorage.

TheCNFAICStabilityMeeting,orassomehavecoinedit-the“ForecasterMeeting”,hasbecomeaweeklystaple.HeldeveryFridaymorning,thisisopentoallavalancheprofessionals.Mostregular

partakersareAKDOT,CPGandAlaskaAvalancheSchool.

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SnowpackandWeatherSummarySeasonalSnowfall=238”SeasonalSWE=21.1”SeasonalH2O=34.4”*DatafromtheTurnagainPassSNOTELonCenterRidge(1880’)fromOct1–May1ThisseasontheNorthernKenaiMountainsexperiencedaContinentaltoInter-mountainsnowclimate.Temperaturesandprecipitationwerebelowaverage.Thiswasawelcomedoccurrenceforatemperaterainforestaccustomedtorainatlowerelevations.“Higherelevationsiteshadsnowpacksthatweregenerallybelow70%ofnormal.Lowelevationsnowpacks,thisyear,weremorevaried,rangingfrom80-148%ofnormal.”(TheSnowSurveyReportputoutbytheNCRSonApril1,2017.)ByearlyJanuarytherewasenoughsnowatsealevelfortheChugachNationalForesttoopenthePlacerandTwentymileRiverdrainagestomotorizeduseastheForesttypicllylooksfora24-36”base.Thiswasthefirsttimeinthreeyearsthesesea-levelzoneshaveopenedandthefirsttimesince2011/2012thattheyremainedopenforaprolongedperiod.

ImagecourtesyofTimGlassett,AlaskaDOTAvalancheProgram

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2016/17-THESEASONOFPERSISTENTWEAKLAYERS

Longperiodsofclearskiesandcoldtemperaturescreatedtheperfectenvironmentforpersistentweaklayerdevelopment.Themostnotablehigh-pressureperiodswereinDecemberandMarch,formingnearsurfacefacetsthatblanketedallaspectsandelevations.Thinnersnowpackzonessufferedthemostwithadvancedbasalfacetsanddepthhoarpersistingtheentireseason.Furthermore,amoistbutclearskyatmospherecreatedwidespreadsurfacehoargrowth,whichbecameanotherculpritindozensofhumantriggeredavalanchesandnearmissesoverthewinter.Infact,wehad7uniquelayersofburiedsurfacehoarthatproducedavalanches.Lastbutnotleast,several‘outflow’windeventscausedunusualloadingandcontributedtonaturalavalancheactivityduringclearskyconditions.CNFAICstaffspentsignificanttimetrackingthemyriadofpersistentweaklayers.Unevensnowdepthsacrosstheregion(includingelevationandaspectinconsistencies)madeitchallengingtoaccuratelymaptheproblems.Forexample,someWesternaspectswereverythinwithadvanceddepthhoar,whileothersweredeepandwellbondedneartheground.

Longneedle-likefacets(spaghettigrain)formedthroughaRadiationRecrystallizationprocess

#snowtosealevel

Oneofthe7surfacehoareventsthatproducedavalanchesonceburied

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NovemberMonthlysnow=42”,MonthlyH2O=11.1”TheseasonstartedoffwarmandwetwithseveralraineventsinlateOctoberandearlyNovember.Thesestormsproducedanywherefrom1-3feetofwetheavysnowinthealpine(above2,500’).PrecipitationcontinuedintomidNovemberandsnowlineeventuallymadeitdownto1000’withjustenoughsnowforskierstoskinfromtheparkinglotsatTurnagainPass.Thesewarmwetconditionswerealsoripeforseveralglideavalanchestorelease.OnNovember16th,therewerejusttherightconditions,cooltemperatures,highhumidityandlightwinds,tocreateawidespreadlayerofsurfacehoar.Thiswasimmediatelyfollowedbysnowfallthatburiedthesurfacehoar12-20”deepoverathree-dayperiod.Ourfirstforecast,7amonNovember19th,wasrightinthemiddleofthesnowfallandsowekickedofftheseasonwithaCONSIDERABLEavalanchedanger.NumerousD1-2skiertriggeredandnaturalavalanchesensued.Thesnowpackeventuallyadjustedwithaperiodofcoldclearweather.BytheendofNovember,theslabhadlostitscohesionasittransformedintotheyear’sfirstlayerofnearsurfacefacets.

TwoshallowskiertriggeredsoftslabavalanchesonSunburst,failingonburiedsurfacehoar,

November21st.

“WHUMPF... There it is! Winter is here and so are the avalanches. Snow falling over the past two days landed on a widespread layer of surface hoar.”

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DecemberMonthlysnow=53”,MonthlyH2O=4.6”Decemberstartedoutwithagenerallythinsnowpack(1-3’thick)below3000’.ThefirsthalfofDecemberexperiencedablockinghigh-pressureandcoldclearweathercreatedwidespreadnearsurfacefacetsandbasalfacetsinpartsoftheregion.Girdwood,SummitLakeandtheSouthernendofTurnagainPassreceivedsignificantlylesstotalsnowinNovemberanddepthhoarwasmorewidespreadintheseareas.InmidDecember,6-10”ofsnowfelloverathree-dayperiodcoveringupthefacetsaswellasanotherlayerofsurfacehoar.Christmasarrivedwith30”ofsnowandstrongwindsthatquicklyelevatedtheavalanchedanger.ThiswasalsoenoughsnowfortheChugachNationalForesttoopenTurnagainPasstosnowmachiningonDecember26th.Luckily,folkskepttheirterrainchoicesandslopeanglesconservative,asthemotorizedopeningcoincidedwithHighdanger,adayafterourfirstissuedpublicavalanchewarning.OnDecember29ththreeskierswerecaughtandcarriedinaD2avalanchetheSWshoulderofLipps.Thismarkedthefirstbignearmissoftheseasonandthankfullyresultedinnoinjuries.Thefollowingday,astrongWesterlywindeventinitiatednumerousnaturalavalanches.WindloadedslopesintheSummitLakeareabrokeneartheground,overloadingthebasalfacets.AvalancheactivityinTurnagainPasswithitsthickersnowpackwasminimal.

ThreeskierstriggeredandsubsequentlycaughtandcarriedinthisavalanchewhileascendingtheSW

ridgeofLippsonTurnagainPass.

#snowtosealevel

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JanuaryMonthlysnow=50”,MonthlyH2O=5.4”SimilartoDecember,thefirsthalfofJanuarywasdry.SurfaceconditionswerewindstrippedandwindhardenedpracticallyeverywhereduetoDecember’swindevent.Interestingly,duringthistimetherewereseveraldaysandnightswithasignigicantinversionwithtemperaturesconsistentlyabove32Finthealpine.However,thesolaroutputfromthesunwasminimalandnoaffectonthesnowpackorsnowsurfacewasobserved.InmidJanuary,multiplesmallstormsdropped20”ofsnowtosealevelovertendays.ThisallowedtheChugachNationalForesttoopenPlacerandTwentymileRiverValleystomotorizeduse.OnJanuary25thand26th,awidespreadnaturalavalanchecyclefollowedduetoawarmlow-pressuresystemthatimpactedallofSouthcentralAlaska.StrongEasterlywindsand30”ofheavywetsnowfellinthealpinewithrainbelow1000’.DozensoflargeD2andD3avalanchesreleasednaturallyandwithartilleryalongtheSewardHighway.SeverallargeavalanchesreleasedtothegroundonbasalfacetsinGirdwoodandSummitLake.OnJanuary29th,twosnowmachinerswerecaughtandonefullyburiedandkilledinaverylarge(D3)avalanchenearCooperLanding,AlaskaontheSewardRangerDistrict(describedintheFatalitiesandNearMissessection).

ThislargenaturalavalanchewascaughtlivebyavalanchespecialistHeatherThammwhileperforming

‘RoadObs’duringthelateJanuaryavalanchecycle.

“Cold arctic air rushing down from the North battered the mountains. What soft snow did remain after the Dec 30th wind event was likely taken away with this Jan 5th wind event - a bit like salt on the wound!“

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FebruaryMonthlysnow=40”,MonthlyH2O=4.0”Februarystartedoffcalmandclear(isthereathemehere?).AfterthebigJanuarystormandavalanchecycle,backcountryusersweregettingbackintoavalancheterrain.ThisperiodmarkedthebeginningofaDeepSlabavalancheproblem;ahighconsequence,lowlikelihoodeventthatrequiresabigtriggerand/orfindingathinnerareaofthesnowpack.OnFebruary3rdthereweretwoseparatelargesnowmachinetriggeredavalanchesinouradvisoryarea.ThefirstwasintheLynxCreekdrainageandthesecondavalancheoccurredintheSeattleCreekdrainage.BothwereonNEaspectsaround3000’,butfailedondifferentweaklayers.Afacet/windcrustcombinationwastheculpritinLynxCreek,whilefacetsnearthegroundprovedproblematicinSeattleCreek.ClearweathercontinueduntilFeb9thwhen10”ofnewsnowcoveredupyetanotherbatchofnearsurfacefacetsandsurfacehoar.Thefollowingday,askiertriggereda1’deephardwindslabontheRavenHeadwallnearCrowPass.Theskierwascarried600’withoutinjury.ThenextdaytheweathersockedinandaseriesofstormsimpactedSouthcentral,Alaskawithstrongwinds,rainto2000’and3feetofwetsnowinthealpine.Thislastedthreedaysandproducedanactivenaturalavalanchecycle.CrowCreekzoneintheGirdwoodValleyandtheSummitLakezonehadfulldepthavalanchesreleasingonbasalfacets.Thenextfourdaystherewereseveralskiertriggeredandsnowmachinetriggeredavalanches,theseallfailedonburiedlayersofsurfacehoarorfacets.Februaryendedwithhighpressureand6daysofstrongWesterlywindsthatcausedanothernaturalcycleintheSummitLakezoneandLynxCreekdrainage.

ThislargeslabavalanchewastriggeredbyasnowmachinerhillclimbingintheLynxCreekdrainageonFeb.3rd.Theriderdidnotknowhehadtriggeredtheslidetillhisdescent.Luckilytheremainderofthegroupwasoutoftheway

atthebottom.Noonewascaught.Photo:AlephJohnston-Bloom

The "Schmoopy Storm", aka the Valentines avalanche cycle

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MarchMonthlysnow=32”,MonthlyH2O=2.7”AlthoughtheWesterlywindsbackedoffinearlyMarch,alongstretchofcleararcticairremainedovertheregionforseveralmoreweeks(25daysofnosnow).Forthemostpartthesurfaceconditionswerewindstripped,hardandlessthanideal.Inplacesthatstillhadsoftsnow,nearsurfacefacetsandsurfacehoarwasfound.However,withtwoweeksofLOWdangerfolkswereventuringintomoreobscureterrainforsoftturns!BythistimeoftheseasonthesunhasamplepowerandsuncrustswereformingonsteepEastandSouthaspects.OnMarch18thand19th,anunexpected“sleeper”stormdropped30+”oflowdensitysnowwithlittlewindinthePlacer/Skookumzone,yetonly12”wasrecordedinTurnagainPassandGirdwood.Therewereafewskiertriggeredslabsandafewnaturalavalanches,butotherwiselittleavalancheactivitywasnoted.HighpressurecontinuedthroughMarch26th.Widespreadsurfacehoargrowthwasobservedatthistimebeforethearrivalofamajorpatternshift.Aseriesoflow-pressuresystemsstackedintheGulfofAlaskabroughtverywarmtemperatures,windandprecipitation;rain/snowlinefluctuatedbetween1500’and3000’,Easterlywindsaveragedinthe40’smphwithgustsinthe80’s,andawidespreadnaturalcyclepushedonforTENdays,wellintoearlyApril.Thiswascoinedthe“AprilFool’s”stormcycle.

GougingfromaverylargeavalancheduringtheAprilFool’sstormcyclerenderedthepopularentrance

toSquirrelFlats“impassable”bylocalriders.Photo:TravisSmith

“With a bit of a "Groundhog Day" feel our weather remains cold and clear and our snowpack is in a holding pattern of sorts.”

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AprilMonthlysnow=21”,MonthlyH2O=4.4”BythetimetheAprilFool’sstormendedonApril6th,therehadbeen9daysofHIGHavalanchedanger.Atotalof6”ofSWE(snowwaterequivalent)wasrecordedinTurnagainPassandovertwicethatinPortageValley.WidespreadwetavalanchedebrisfilledallofthechanneledterrainbetweenGirdwoodandTurnagain.Averylargeavalanche(D4)occurredinPortageValleyonMaynardMountainjustabovetheAntonAndersonMemorialtunnel(accesstoWhittier).Avalanchesranonanassortmentofweaklayersincludingafewfailingneartheground.FollowingthestormtherewereseveralnearmissesinthecoreadvisoryareaofTurnagainPass.Multiplelargesnowmachinetriggeredslabs3-8’thickwerefailingonburiedsurfacehoarunderthestormsnowresultinginatleast2instnacesofsnowmachinersbeingcaughtandcarried.Tomakemattersmorecomplicated,thespring-timeshedcyclestartedinmidAprilwithwarmdaytimetemperaturesandsignificantsolarinputonSoutherlyaspects.OnApril13thaskiertriggeredaD2wetslabonSunburstthatranonbasalfacets.ClearweatherandcoolnighttimetemperatureskeptNortherlyaspectsdryuntilApril22ndwiththearrivalofovercastskiesandlightrain.SnowdepthsoverthelastfewweeksofAprildeclinedrapidlywithdailymelting.ThelastweekofAprilcontinuedtoslowlymeltoutontheSouth,East,andWestaspects.Northernaspectswereleftmostlyintact,whichstillhadapotentialtoproducelargeavalanchesshouldMayseearapidwarmupwithrain.

MaynardMountain,justSouthoftheWhittiertunnel,producedaverylargeD4avalancheduringa10-daystormcycleendingearlyApril.Debrischanneledwellintotheflatswiththetunnelentrancejustout

ofsightandlookersleftofthedebris.Photo:AlephJohnston-Bloom

April Fool's Storm = 9 days of HIGH Danger

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NearMissesandFatalitiesAftersixyearswithoutanavalanchefatalityontheChugachNationalForest,sadlyasnowmachinerlosthisliferidingintheV-MaxHillareaoftheKenaiMountains,notfarfromtheSnugHarborroadtrailhead.Asynopsisoftheaccidentreportisdetailedbelow.Alaskaaverages3avalanchedeathsperseason.The2016/17wintertragicallysawtwo.TheotherfatalityoccurredinthetownofNorthPole,justSouthofFairbanks,wherea4yearoldgirlsuccumbedtoinjuriessustainedfromaroofavalancheatherhome.

V-MaxHillAvalancheFatalityLocation:V-MaxHillarea,CooperLanding,KenaiMountainsDate:January28,2017Classification:HS-AMr-D3-R4-O

Synopsis:Twosnowmachinerswerecaughtandcarriedinalargeslabavalanchetriggeredremotelyfromalowerbench.Rider1wasfullyburiedwithjusthishandbreakingthesurface.Rider1wasfoundwithinminutesbyanunaffiliatedgroupanddugoutuninjured.Rider2wasburiedapproximately8feetdeep.After20-25minutestheunaffiliatedgroup,withhelpfromRider1,wasabletoreachRider2.Rider2wasrecoveredunresponsiveandflowntoanareahospitalwherehewaspronounceddeceased.http://www.cnfaic.org/misc_uploads/VMaxAvalancheAccidentReport1-28-17.pdf

LookingupattheavalanchefromtheburialsiteofRider2whodidnotsurvive.Photo:CNFAIC

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SeattleCreekHeadwallNearMissLocation:SeattleCreekdrainage,TurnagainPass,KenaiMountainsDate:February3,2017Classification:HS-AMu-D2-R3-O

Synopsis:Asnowmachinertriggeredalargeavalancheonthedecentofahighmark.Hewascaughtandcarried.Hisavalancheairbagfailedtodeploy(laterdetermineditwasnot‘armed’)andhewasfullyburiedexceptforhisrighthandbreakingthesurface.Twoofhispartnerswerewatchingfromasafezoneandathirdarrivedjustastheavalancheoccurred.Twomoreridersfromaseparategroupheardtheavalancheandrodeovertoassistintherescue.Theyimmediatelystartedabeaconsearchandonememberofthesecond(unaffiliated)partysawthevictim’shand.Therescuersgottohimwithinafewminutesandimmediatelyuncoveredhisheadtoreachhisairway.Hewasbreathing,uninjuredandfullyuncoveredwithin15minutes.Ofnote:thisavalanchewasduringatimeoflowlikelihood,thetracksontheslope(fromearlierintheday)arefromWendyWagner,CNFAICDirector,pleaseseethefullreportlinkedbelow:http://www.cnfaic.org/misc_uploads/SeattleCreekHeadwall-NearMiss.pdf

CrownandtriggerpointofSeattleCreekHeadwallavalanche.Photo:CNFAIC

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LippsRidgeNearMissLocation:LippsRidge,TurnagainPass,KenaiMountainsDate:December29,2016Classification:HS/SS-ASu-D2-R1-I/OSynopsis:ThreeskiersascendingonskinstriggeredanavalanchethatbrokeabovethemwhileascendingthelowerSouthwestaspectofLippsRidge.Allthreewerecarriedaround300’,2skiersendeduponthesurfaceofthedebrisandoneskierwaspartiallyburied.Noinjuriesincurred,skisandothergearwaslost.Authoritieswerenotifiedbyanobservantmotoristwhosawtracksleadingintotheavalanche.Detailedreportcanbefoundonthelinkbelow.http://www.cnfaic.org/misc_uploads/Lipps_Near_Miss_Dec_29_2016.pdf

GoogleEarthImageryofLippsRidge(imagerydate:12/13/15)withSkierB’sGPStrackoftheascent,carriedbytheavalancheandthewalkout.

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FinancesandFundraising-TheFriendsofthe

CNFAIC

TheFriendsoftheChugachNationalForestAvalancheInformationCenter(F-CNFAIC)isanonprofit501(c)(3)corporation,organizedtosupportandcontributetoavalancheawarenessandeducationalactivities.Formedin2003,F-CNFAICworkstohelpbridgethegapbetweenavailableUSForestServicefundingandtheactualexpensesofoperatingtheCNFAIC.

TheF-CNFAICisinstrumentaltoouroperationastheyprovidejusthalfofourtotalannualbudget!FundraisingcontinuedonasuccessfulstreakthisyearwiththeannualFallFUNdraisersellingouttheBeartoothTheatrepub(425seats)foramovingslideshowbyGirdwoodlocalandprofessionalskierElyseSaugstad.The3rdAnnualSnowball,abuddingmid-winterfundraiser,drewasoldoutcrowdaswell.Annualmemberships,corporateandprivatedonationsallsawanuptickduringthe2016/17season.OngoingGoals:

• Enhancingavalancheawarenessbyprovidinginformationtothepublic

• Promotingavalancheeducation• SupportingCNFAICforecastersalaries• Maintaining,expanding,andupdatingweather

stations• PurchasingandmaintainingAvalancheCenter

equipment

OperatingCosts:

F-CNFAICspendsasignificantportionofitsbudgetonexpensesdirectlyrelatedtoCNFAIC.Thisgraphreflectshowtheseexpensesaredivided.Tocontinuethiswork,itneedstoraiseaminimumof$80,000.Ifyouseevalueinthispublicservice,pleaseconsiderdonatingsothattheF-CNFAICcancontinuetoprovideavalancheinformation,forecastingactivitiesandavalancheeducationtoSouthcentralAlaska!(donationlinkoncnfaic.org)

Sassafrass rocked the 49th State Brewery stage at the sold out 2017 Snowball!

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TheFriendsoftheCNFAIC(Continued)

IndustryandIndividualsponsorshipsareinstrumentalinprovidingCNFAICproductsandprograms.ThefollowingaretheF-CNFAICPlatinumandGoldLevelSponsors!!

PlatinumLevelSponsors(over$5,000)

GoldLevelSponsors($1,000-$4,999)

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THANKYOUfromtheCNFAICTeam!!

TheforecasterswouldliketothankeveryonewhohasextendedsuchincrediblesupporttotheAvalancheCenter.Thisservicewouldnotbepossiblewithoutsuchastrongcommunitydesiretomakeithappen.Haveagreatsummereveryoneandwelookforwardtoseeingyounextfall!!

Graham Predeger

Heather Thamm

Aleph Johnston-Bloom

Wendy Wagner