The Anchorage Avalanche Center has concluded its fifth season of providing a grassroots, volunteer organized snow-season backcountry safety program for Chugach State Park.

Check the last advisory with information on spring-summer avalanche conditions, and please continue to submit observations.

2016-17 Season Accomplishments:

• 33 advisories (every weekend December-April & additional danger updates as warranted)
• 75+ backcountry observations
• Low cost avalanche education workshops for 60+ individuals
• 5 TV, 2 newspaper, 2 radio appearances on avalanche conditions, education, & recreation
• Chugach State Park recreational mapping project

  Anchorage Avalanche Center mission: increase the safety, awareness, and recreational enjoyment of visitors to Anchorage’s backyard mountain playground (Chugach State Park) through avalanche advisories, backcountry observations, accident investigations, winter backcountry education, and community events.
  

  Anchorage Avalanche Center vision: comprehensive avalanche information and education for backcountry recreation in Chugach State Park.

If you think the backcountry snow community and Chugach State Park deserve more than just a public observations platform, please consider getting involved with (or donating to) the Anchorage Avalanche Center effort.  Please consider soliciting support from your government representatives (Municipality of Anchorage and state level), the Department of Natural Resources (Alaska State Parks and Chugach State Park), and local businesses and organizations relevant to snow-season backcountry recreation.  Your help is appreciated, and imperative for the development of a sustainable avalanche information program for Chugach State Park.

Close call: three people were caught and carried by this avalanche just above the South Fork Eagle River trailhead (photo by Suzie Mauro, edited by AAC).

Advisories: danger updates and weekend avalanche outlooks

Observations: the recreational conditions people are finding in Chugach State Park

Education: statewide learning opportunities and online resources for getting “avy savvy”

Be sure to check the AAC social media (Instagram & Facebook) for additional info.

We encourage you to submit observations in regard to Chugach State Park recreation conditions: trail reports (hiking, fat biking, skiing), climbing reports (ice conditions, creek access), and snow reports (surface conditions, snowpack).

Know Before You Go!

Whether you’re out to shred fresh pow, climb ice, fat bike alpine trails, snowshoe, or winter hike in the high country; be mindful of snow conditions and avalanche danger!