Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center

Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing avalanche awareness in Southcentral Alaska.

2026/27 CNFAC Internship Application now open! We are now seeking qulaified candidates for the 2026/27 CNFAC Internship!...
06/05/2026

2026/27 CNFAC Internship Application now open!

We are now seeking qulaified candidates for the 2026/27 CNFAC Internship! Our intership program has been a key part of the CNFAC operation, providing emerging professionals with an opportunit to develop skills and move towards a carreer in the snow and avalanche world. We rely on our interns as field partners and to provide independent field observations on skis and snowmachines. In addition to the technical field skills, Interns will also participate in outreach events, attend staff meetings and gain experience in mountain weather and avalanche forecasting.

The application period will be open through June 30, 2026, and we will aim to fill the position by late July.

Please visit www.ChugachAvalanche.org/internship for more details on the program and the application process.

Avy Update - May 26, 2026Attention hikers and Mt. Racers! It has been a cold spring and new snow has been falling above ...
05/26/2026

Avy Update - May 26, 2026

Attention hikers and Mt. Racers!

It has been a cold spring and new snow has been falling above 1,500’ in many places in Alaska like Bear Mountain in Seward pictured here. This means new snow problems like Wind slab, Storm Slab, and Wet Snow avalanches could still occur. These avalanches could cross trails that are free of snow like Crow Pass, Byron Glacier Trail, Summit Creek, the Iditarod from Ptarmigan to Victor Creek near Moose Pass, and so many more.

This photo was taken Sunday, May 24 showing a new slab avalanche on Bear Mountain. There was a report of a small human-triggered avalanche on Monday, May 25 on Mt. Marathon. Rockfall was also reported Monday by some Jr. Racers traveling in the chute.

Give new snow 24-48 hours to stabilize to the old snow beneath before traveling on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

There is also still a chance larger wet snow avalanches could occur especially when the sun comes out after the storm. Flat, dry trails can be impacted by large avalanches so avoid trails that have steep snow covered slopes above for now.

Photo: Bear Mountain with large debris piles and a new crown of a slab avalanche on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Avalanche blocking the road to Crow Pass trailhead, just past the neighborhood (Girdwood side). Many popular trails on t...
05/21/2026

Avalanche blocking the road to Crow Pass trailhead, just past the neighborhood (Girdwood side). Many popular trails on the Chugach NF such as Byron Glacier, Crow Pass, and Johnson Pass (N) continue to harbor overhead Avalanche hazard as we can’t quite shake this cold, wet spring.
While avalanche forecasting has ceased, avalanche season has not! Please share any pertinent photos or observations .org ❄️

Avy Update - May 15, 2026: Heads up Hikers!We have seen multiple large natural avalanches releasing as springtime condit...
05/15/2026

Avy Update - May 15, 2026: Heads up Hikers!

We have seen multiple large natural avalanches releasing as springtime conditions slowly arrive. Weather it's warm temperatures and sunny skies, or intense springtime storms, avalanche conditions are dangerous and currently threaten popular trails like the Byron Glacier and Crow Pass trails.

These trails will continue to be dangerous as long as there is snow in the higher terrain. Avalanches have been running well below the existing snow line, and can make it into valley bottoms. Please consider avoiding these trails for now, as well as any others that traverse below large, snow-covered slopes!

It's looking like our window of pleasant weather is closing this weekend, with another round of rain up to 1500-2000' and 6-10" snow likely at upper elevations from Saturday evening through Sunday night. It's late in the season, but avalanche conditions are still complicated.

Photos:
1. Very large natural avalanche in the Middle Glacier drainage in the Portage Valley. Photo: Jared Rubin, 05.14.2026
2. Natural avalanche on Penguin Ridge above the Girdwood Valley. Photo: Graham Predeger, 05.14.2026.

We have finished issuing avalanche forecasts for the 2025/26 season, but the avalanche season isn’t over yet. Here are a...
05/07/2026

We have finished issuing avalanche forecasts for the 2025/26 season, but the avalanche season isn’t over yet. Here are a few photos of natural avalanche activity in Turnagain Pass this week. We will continue to publish Observations that come in, and will chime in on these social media channels as needed through the spring.

This was a very challenging season for the CNFAC, and we would not have made it without the support of our community. Thank you to everyone who shared an observation, joined us as a field partner, or simply sent us a message of support. Additionally, THANK YOU to all of you who have supported the CNFAC through donations, memberships, and a variety of other means. Again we could not do this without you.

We would also like to thank our professional partners for sharing their insights, information, and wisdom, which greatly improve our forecasts.

Alaska DOT Avalanche Program
Alyeska Snow Safety
Chugach Powder Guides
Chugach Electric Avalanche Program
Alaska Railroad Avalanche Program
Avalanche Risk Solutions
Alaska Guide Collective
Red Raven Guides
Girdwood Backcountry Guides
Anchorage Nordic Ski Patrol
Alaska Mountain Rescue Group
Alaska Avalanche School
APU Snow Science Program

We hope you all have a fun and safe spring and summer. We’d love to know what you’re seeing if you get out, don’t be afraid to drop an observation! Stay tuned to our social media channels to stay in the loop, and check out www.ChugachAvalanche.org for current observations and news posts. See you out there!

Photos:
1. Massive debris pile in the Bear Valley, just north of the Whittier Tunnel on the Portage side. 05.06.2026.
2. Widespread avalanche activity on Turnagain Pass in the Super Bowl area, between Magnum and Cornbiscuit. 05.06.2026

We have finished issuing avalanche forecasts for the 2025/26 season, but the avalanche season isn't over yet. Here are a...
05/07/2026

We have finished issuing avalanche forecasts for the 2025/26 season, but the avalanche season isn't over yet. Here are a few photos of natural avalanche activity in Turnagain Pass this week. We will continue to publish Observations that come in, and will chime in on these social media channels as needed through the spring.

This was a very challenging season for the CNFAC, and we would not have made it without the support of our community. Thank you to everyone who shared an observation, joined us as a field partner, or simply sent us a message of support. Additionally, THANK YOU to all of you who have supported the CNFAC through donations, memberships, and a variety of other means. Again we could not do this without you.

We would also like to thank our professional partners for sharing their insights, information, and wisdom, which greatly improve our forecasts.

Alaska DOT Avalanche Program
Alyeska Snow Safety
Chugach Powder Guides
Chugach Electric Avalanche Program
Alaska Railroad Avalanche Program
Avalanche Risk Solutions
Alaska Guide Collective
Red Raven Guides
Alaska Avalanche School
APU Snow Science Program

We hope you all have a fun and safe spring and summer. We'd love to know what you're seeing if you get out, don't be afraid to drop an observation! Stay tuned to our social media channels to stay in the loop, and check out www.ChugachAvalanche.org for current observations and news posts. See you out there!

Photos:
1. Massive debris pile in the Bear Valley, just north of the Whittier Tunnel on the Portage side. 05.06.2026.
2. Widespread avalanche activity on Turnagain Pass in the Super Bowl area, between Magnum and Cornbiscuit. 05.06.2026

Avy Update - May 3, 2026Fresh wind slabs 1 to 2’ deep as well as older wind slabs up to 3’ deep could be easy to trigger...
05/03/2026

Avy Update - May 3, 2026

Fresh wind slabs 1 to 2’ deep as well as older wind slabs up to 3’ deep could be easy to trigger on wind loaded slopes. Multiple buried weak layers are still capable of triggering a large avalanche with dire consequences. Wet avalanches will be likely in lower to mid elevations. Be cautious if you consider moving into steeper terrain keeping in mind that the safest option is to stick to lower angle slopes away from steep slopes above you.

Tomorrow we will be posting our 'Springtime Tips' which will be our last forecast of the season.

__________________________________

We are devastated to share the news that Dylan Lenzie passed away this week after getting caught in an avalanche. This is a heavy loss for the Alaskan avalanche community and for anyone who was lucky enough to meet him. We extend our sincere condolences to all of his family, friends, and colleagues.

Dylan was a friend, colleague, and fellow professional just hitting his stride in the Alaska Snow and Avalanche communit...
05/02/2026

Dylan was a friend, colleague, and fellow professional just hitting his stride in the Alaska Snow and Avalanche community. He was a confident, competent, and humble avalanche instructor, and guide with a natural ability to connect with students and clients in thoughtful and intelligent ways, sharing his passion for snowmachining and splitboarding in Alaska. His passing is a devastating loss to this community. Our deepest sympathies go out to Dylan’s family, friends, and coworkers.

Avy Update May 2, 2026:With a break in the weather on the heels of an intense storm, we are heading into the kind of con...
05/02/2026

Avy Update May 2, 2026:

With a break in the weather on the heels of an intense storm, we are heading into the kind of conditions where avalanche accidents happen. It is still likely a person will be able to trigger a large avalanche failing 1 to 3' deep within yesterday's new and windblown snow. There is a chance these may impact deeper weak layers, producing much larger avalanches. The likelihood of natural avalanche activity will increase if the sun comes out. Travel with caution today, and consider avoiding traveling on or below steep terrain.

: www.ChugachAvalanche.org

Photo: Snowing sideways in Portage yesterday. This was the scene across most of our forecast area. 05.01.2026

AVALANCHE WARNING: May 1, 2026:An intense atmospheric river is bringing heavy snowfall, rain, and extreme winds to the a...
05/01/2026

AVALANCHE WARNING: May 1, 2026:

An intense atmospheric river is bringing heavy snowfall, rain, and extreme winds to the area today. Avalanche danger is HIGH at all elevations across all of our forecast zones. Expect large avalanches to release naturally, running long distances into low elevation runout zones. Conditions will be very dangerous during and immediately after this storm. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.

More info in today's forecast: www.ChugachAvalanche.org

Predicted snowfall graphic courtesy of NWS Anchorage. 05.01.2026

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Anchorage, AK
99524

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