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New #snow tonight and tomorrow, and moderate to strong winds this weekend, will increase #avalanche danger in the Western #Chugach #Mountains near #Anchorage (i.e. #ChugachStatePark). Avalanche danger is expected to remain elevated through the weekend (as snow is forecast through Saturday, and Sunday is forecast to be windy). Natural avalanches may be possible, and human triggered avalanches likely, in some areas (primarily upper elevation leeward terrain). If you recreate in or around #backcountry avalanche terrain: leave a trip plan with someone in town, take avalanche rescue gear and know how to use it, be prepared for winter conditions with appropriate attire, and make sure you know how to identify avalanche terrain and assess it for stability. Invest in avalanche education: it’s worth it and will allow you to enrich your life with safe snow-season backcountry adventures! We’re in #Valdez, #Alaska for the holidays. Today we climbed Second Coming up Hole in the Wall canyon. Access is precarious if you don’t want to get your feet wet. The climbs are wet and thin. If you want to peer into a “hollow icicle” that puts THE “Hollow Icicle” (Echo Bend area Eagle River ice climb) to shame, checkout the upper Second Coming pillar. Actually, don’t: it’s definitely NOT SAFE in current conditions. The last two moves are over an egg shell with no reasonable bypass. The pillar was down climbed near the top out as a fall into the pillar would be unsurvivable on lead. It needs some time and colder temps.

A post shared by Anchorage Avalanche Center (@anchorage_avalanche_center) on Dec 28, 2018 at 11:06pm PST