Avalanche dangers linger in Turnagain Pass and the Chugach

Brian Stoecker/Turnagain Times John Weber snowboards the lower reaches of Tincan Peak on Tuesday, April 21. In his four years living between Homer and Anchorage, Weber has boarded Turnagain Pass over 60 times. Snow conditions are “usually good into late May,” he said.

By Brian Stoecker
Turnagain Times Correspondent

As the sun beat upon the snow on arguably the nicest day of spring, a mere two cars with solo occupants were staged at the Tincan Peak access in Turnagain Pass. Until recently, the pullout saw heavy use on any given day. Where were the otherwise predictable crowds?
According to John Weber, who skinned up the mountain on a split-board, the reason may have been a warning posted on the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center web site (www.cnfaic.org). With the heavy snow load and warmer temperatures, many slopes have grown unstable and may slide.
Carl Skustad of the CNFAIC is the avalanche authority for local high usage areas, particularly Turnagain Pass. Regular updates on snow and avalanche conditions provide benchmark information for snow riders of every medium. Currently the avalanche threat is rated, “CONSIDERABLE”. Depending on forthcoming weather and regional variations, hazards may increase to “HIGH and possibly EXTREME very quickly,” according to Skustad.
Other information made available by CNFAIC includes locations currently open for snowmachining, snowpack depths, and a comprehensive record of natural and human-triggered avalanches, including injuries or fatalities.
Indicative of the current avalanche treat, is the Alaska Railroad’s decision to discontinue its provisional passenger service between Anchorage and Whittier. Instead, they’ve resurrected what was formerly known as the Whittier Shuttle, which boards at Portage.
Tincan’s two adventurers du juor (snowboarders both) epitomized a vast range of preparedness, or lack thereof. Weber carried a shovel, avalanche beacon and extra gear. The other, carried his shirt. To his credit, it really was a nice day.
Weber swears by the information provided by CNFAIC and generally adheres to every safety standard for the backcountry. He hikes with friends or joins an arriving party. Time constraints mandated this day’s exception. But why the avalanche beacon, without another to locate the signal? In a worst-case scenario, Weber admits, you carry a beacon “to find the body.” If nothing else, it’s a courtesy.
The shirtless beaconless boarder shared his antithetical philosophy on postmortem avalanche recovery. “Someone’s gotta feed the bears.”
Before choosing to hike Tincan, Weber checked out Sunburst but didn’t like the conditions. “Magnum had a big slide. Probably a natural one,” he said. Weber noted that there were no discernible tracks leading to or from the slide.
Sunburst Mountain bore the mark of a few snow riders, but none dared tempt the mountain’s wide sweeping face. All the tracks followed its north spine to the ridge. Magnum Mountain showed no use at all. Its frontal avalanche may have been the contributing factor.
Both men returned to their cars unscathed. Despite his cavalier approach, the shirtless boarder proved prepared enough. He chose only the safer snow, as did Weber, and emerged with a deeper tan. “I stay alert. I’ll probably die by my worst nightmare. Peacefully in my sleep,” he anonymously stated, with an irrepressible smile.