View this post on Instagram

After our first real stretch of cold #winter #Alaskan weather for the 18-19 #snow season (that began earlier in January) the #Chugach has returned to a warm, wet, and windy pattern. #Avalanche danger has increased across the massive range, and is expected to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. Despite the dismal weather and dangerous avalanche conditions we must endure for the next several days, our #snowpack could actually use the shocking reset that results from a stress-inducing warm storm; it will hopefully flush out some persistent instabilities naturally and contribute to a more benign metamorphism as it mellows out the temperature gradient (that was drastically steepened by the extended stretch of clear and cold that significantly faceted and “rotted” the snowpack in many areas). Our advice: be patient, positive, and approach the #mountains with caution when the weather breaks as it’ll take some time to understand the post-storm state of the snowpack. Thanks to our friends @voilemfg and @blackdiamond for supporting our efforts this season, as well as the new niche sport of ski-spelunking.

A post shared by Anchorage Avalanche Center (@anchorage_avalanche_center) on Jan 23, 2019 at 10:41am PST