Turnagain Pass- a place where Beauty and The Beast live on every slope!

Those of us living in Alaska will always tell you how refreshing it is when March rolls around and the days get longer. There is something incredible about spring skiing. It is like a bowl of ice cream with all your favorite toppings…like every favorite topping! 

It is blissful. 

It puts a big grin on your face!

You do not want it to end!

I was out with a friend for a ski in Turnagain Pass and all the day's moments were filled with joy. The sun was bright, the temps were warm, the wind was absent, and the snow was soft. All folks on the mountain were happy. All backcountry users were pausing at transitions to take advantage of the day's beauty.

 I think we had the "all day-sunglasses on-smiles on our faces" glow.

There is one thing that keeps everyone looking closely at slopes this year with curiousity. That one thing is called GLIDE CRACKS.

I will not pretend to have any knowledge of the science behind them, but I

will share my pics and stories of avoiding them.

Some  terms thrown around this season in the Chugach National Forest, referring to these Glide cracks have been, scary, unpredictable, something to avoid, crazy, spooky, and fascinating.

A tour in Turnagain Pass allows you to see how these Glide Cracks are alpha to all backcountry users.  These cracks are ruling Turnagain Pass- it is as if they all just got elected to some political office and have no patience for their constituents. They call the shots and no one has influence on them.

 The below is a Glide Crack that sits on the west face of Lipps. It has never fully released and has filled in over the past few months. 

 It has been respected by most users.

                                   
               But we caught a snowboarder living on the edge (no pun intended) Pics below

  Jumping the upper lip of the Glide crack with no consequence

The below pic is the Glide Crack on south face of Lipps  and it has gone big this season already and folks know to stay away- like there is a brown bear lurking in hibernation- and you don't know when it will rear it's cranky head.

This cornice on the west face of Lipps was a beauty. The turquoise glow from the sun and moisture entices all viewers to notice its massive beauty…until a chunk would shed off and bring us back to the reality of the beast that lurks within. Another example of beauty and the beast sharing the slopes with us. 

 

Days like this carry us through 'til the next.  

 What we do not want to forget is that with every "beauty" there usually lurks a "beast" or two and  this year those beasts are in the form of Glide Cracks.