Western Chugach, Chugach State Park, South Fork Eagle River area

Public observation:

Large avalanches in North Bowl and Hunter Pass visible from 6 miles away in Eagle River valley this morning. Can’t tell from this distance whether natural or human triggered. Both paths appear to be hundreds of feet wide and long. Probably failed on basal facets judging from vegetation visible in Hunter Pass slide path.

AAC comments:

The lower crown shown in the above photo is the avalanche path that hangs above the typical North Bowl ascent route via Hunter Pass.  Human triggered avalanches here have resulted in burials before.  This area is the crux of the approach to North Bowl (and is arguably more avalanche prone than North Bowl itself).

This season the path is more heavily wind-loaded than it has been in years, and there was a prominent wind-lip (that’s almost developing into a cornice) where the aspect changes from windward and scoured to leeward and loaded.  It’s important to be very mindful of this path on the approach to North Bowl, and practice your best terrain management in order to avoid it by working the scoured windward terrain (even though it may be “slide-for-life” and require ski-crampons or booting).

Check out this graphic to help build your understanding: