Glide Cracks In Turnagain Pass

Observation: Two glide cracks visible along the east side of Turnagain Pass, along Seattle Ridge. Viewed from Magnum. The one to the left released earlier in the morning. The glide cracks have made mountain snow activities more treacherous this year. They are unpredictable in their release and are increasing in activity throughout the Chugach, making them the primary avalanche concern named by the forecasters many days of this season.

LEO Comment: Here is a professional observation from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) of the same glide crack and an article provided by the Alaska Avalanche School titled, Don't mess with the "Brown Frown" - Glide Avalanche Problems in Alaska's Southcentral, by Aleph Johnston-Bloom, (CNFAIC Forecaster and AAS Instructor). K. Hickel

Resource:

National Avalanche Center (NAC), Encyclopedia - Glide avalanches: "Glide occurs when the entire snowpack slowly slides as a unit on the ground. Glide avalanches can be composed of wet, moist, or almost entirely dry snow and pose a hazard that is very difficult to forecast. They are often preceded by glide cracks (full depth cracks in the snowpack), though the time between the appearance of a crack and an avalanche can vary between seconds and months. Glide avalanches are unlikely to be triggered by a person, and many glide cracks don't result in avalanches. That said, it's not smart to muck around on or below visible glide cracks." Source: U.S. Forest Service, NAC - Glide avalanches

National Avalanche, (2014-10-25) Example fo Glide in the snowpack: glide - "Glide is a slow process, that Usually occurs over several days. Clide occurs because melt water lubricates teh ground and allows teh overlying snopack to slowly "glide" downhill. This process will sometimes produce a wet slab avalance." Source: National Avalanche Center, YouTube video.