Backcountry Ski Guiding in Valdez, Alaska. Ski and Avalanche Condition Reports
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Thompson Pass Treks
WEATHER
DISCUSSIONS
SNOWCAMS
Port Valdez(inop)
SNOWBLOGS
by Lou Dawson (CO)
by Bob Athey (UT)
by Andrew Maclean(UT)
by Craig Dostie(CA)
SNOWPALS
Alaska Avalanche
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Guide Availability
May-Open
Thompson Pass Treks - Backcountry Ski Guiding
May 1, 2013
34F/More Flurries/Calm
4” new powder over old today with sunspots. WX FRCST calling for 12” at higher elevation over next 36 hours.
Today in Thompson Pass
Upper Schoolbus
Tom Cal (CA))
May 3, 2013
1045 AK Time
Special Avalanche Statement
HIGH avalanche danger is developing in the Chugach around Valdez and will exist for the next 24 hours. 12-25” of wet snow with WE over 2.5” in the past 24 hours are the most obvious concerns, along with warm temps near or over freezing along much of the Richardson Highway from Valdez to 42-Mile. Large wet slides are likely to run at the old snow/new snow interface, though I see little chance of step-downs. Higher elevation west to north aspects are of the highest concern for wind slab events Backcountry travel is not recommended near avalanche terrain. Highway travelers should exercise caution along Mile 13-16 and 20-42.
May 4, 2013
1100 AK TIME
38F/Rain-Snow/Calm
HIGH AVALANCHE WARNING
continues through May 5/Sunday/8am
Avalanches are occurring along the front range in Valdez and Thompson Pass. Warm temps and abundant precip will taper slowly over the next 24 hours and a quick trend toward moderating stability along with rapid settlement of very wet, new snow. Don’t expect much cooling tonight as it’s Spring. Over 3.5”WE over past 36 hours which means lots of snow above 3000’. Temps in TP remain below 32F.
May 5, 2013
1800 AKT
40F/Cloudy/Calm
Sun broke out today revealing plenty of recent and active avalanching from large wet slides mixed with slab releases on a variety of aspects at upper elevations within the old/new snow interface. Solar activity is an added daily concern in the short term on most aspects as daytime temp climb over the next few days. CONSIDERABLE hazard remains in effect near steeper E-S-W aspects, dependent on cloud coverage, over the next few days. New snow still settling.
Today - Laps on Little O
May 6, 2013
1900 AK Time
43F/Cloudy/Calm
Stayed far away from south aspects while checking out the avalanche paths from the weekend storm. Measured an astonishing 165cm of storm snow, settled, at 4000’ on the DOT Glacier/Loveland Basin. Boot Pen - Waist. All aspects in the Basin shedding in one event is real unique, including the double-header on 27-Mile Glacier. The entire north face of Loveland Peak released a large slab to the basin floor. We skinned up the ridge route. Good powder skiing was found on what was left on high north aspects. Corn at mid-mountain and sticky wet snow below 3000‘.
CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger remains on, above and below, all but northerly aspect as day time temps near 40F and sluffing increases. Avoid angles over 35 degrees on all aspects as I found some slab issues still settling near the surface. The potential for large naturals on southerly aspects is directly related to decreasing cloud coverage.
Here’s Three Pictures
Skler: Tom Cal (Truckee)
May 8, 2013
2000 AK TIme
50F/Clear/Calm
Found near perfect corn on most of Sugarloaf Mt. Good parking along Dayville Road about 1 block before the hatchery. Look for snowy routes between tide pools to get through trees, up the “pipe-scar” and on to the north ridge as far as you want.
Ski from the Sea in May?
Port Valdez Arena
May 11, 2012
“Transitions” come in many forms. Stripping skins at the top of a peak after a fair ascent is by far my favorite. The other is Springtime and a return to my road cycling obsession by concentrating on time trials by the Arctic Bicycling Club and the Fireweed 50 TT in July.
Snow remains plentiful and I am available for ski tours the rest of May.
Tabitha and about 8 other Valdez super-women are heading to Anchorage next week for the Gold Nugget Triathlon. She will also be doing the race with her two sisters. It’s the first
triathlon for many, including the Gregorys.
Valdezean Bob Smith hammered home a championship in the prestigious Lavaman Triathlon last month taking 1st place in the 60-64 Age Division by nearly 4 minutes over his nearest competitor out of a field of 21 in his age group. Overall - 92nd out of 1000 guys and gals. How cool is Bob!
This is just pure siliiness from one of my recent guided trips....
May 21, 2012
Valdez Women Rock At Gold Nugget Triathlon
Bonnie Cudnohufsky led a swarm of Valdezeans across the finish line of the all women Gold Nugget Triathlon in Anchorage on Sunday. The largest triathlon in Alaska and the longest continuous woman’s triathlon in the US was on weather hold, but the snow finally stopped and springtime arrived in time for the race.
Kudo’s to all the participants from Valdez. Hard work over the winter made it possible for many to complete their first triathlon. You go girls!
Valdez Finishers
500yd Swim/12-mile Bike/4-mile Run
Bonnie Cudnohufsky - 1:43 Jennifer Weber 1:47 Tabitha Gregory 1:49
Magdelena McCay - 1:50 Carol Simmons 2:07 Vicki Cranor 2:16 Karen Weiland 2:43
Pics - Bonnie, Tabitha and Carol near the finish line.
