December 26, 2018

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It’s been a big winter in the upper elevations of the #Chugach #Mountains. Large cornices already exist in many areas of the Western and Central Chugach where we’ve spent time #climbing and #skiing this season. A lot of cornice falls and associated avalanches have occurred. For the end of 2018 into the start of 2019, cornices will be growing and especially prone to failure from #snow and wind that is forecast throughout Southcentral #Alaska. As you’re out recreating in the mountains this season, be mindful of cornices: don’t approach the edge of a snowy ridge to look downslope unless you’re sure it’s not corniced, give corniced ridges a wide berth as you travel along the windward side (cornices can break off further back than expected – even beyond the land mass), not only is a cornice fall itself dangerous (whether you’re above and fall with it, or below and exposed to its debris path) but cornice falls can trigger large avalanches as they impact the #snowpack of surrounding terrain. Photos are of the north ridge and NW face of Rhinestone Cowgirl on #ThompsonPass in the #Valdez area Central Chugach 12/26/18 by @jessrtran

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