Valdez Avalanche Center

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Valdez Avalanche Center The VAC backcountry avalanche forecast for Valdez, Thompson Pass, and the surrounding area is made possible by our dedicated staff and volunteers.

VAC provides avalanche education in Valdez and the Copper River Basin. Become a member of VAC today. Valdez Avalanche Center is part of the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, sharing the mission: To support and promote avalanche forecasts, education, research, professional development, and networking of practitioners in the pursuit of healthy lifestyles and the reduction of unintentional injury and death. Forecasts and educational opportunities are community supported. VAC's funding comes from individuals and local businesses who believe avalanche information is important and saves lives. The City of Valdez began fiscal support in 2013. Please join the VAC as a member today. www.alaskasnow.org

It’s that time of year again, Valdez! We’re heading to City Council to request the annual funding that helps keep local ...
10/24/2026

It’s that time of year again, Valdez!

We’re heading to City Council to request the annual funding that helps keep local avalanche forecasts and safety resources free for everyone, and we’d love to have your support there.

Join us Tuesday, October 27 at 6 PM at City Council Chambers, 212 Chenega Ave.

Come share why avalanche forecasting matters to you and help us show the City that this service deserves to continue and grow. Let’s pack the house!

Another way to support VAC: become a member or renew your membership. Membership numbers help show the City how many people value this work, and your registration helps fund it.

Join or renew: https://alaskasnow.org/membership

Can’t attend? Send a letter of support by Monday, October 26 to mailto:[email protected] and mailto:[email protected].

Thank you to our members, partners, and everyone who shows up for VAC. 💙

Snow is starting to fall, which means VAC is ramping up for another season of bringing you the most up to date avalanche...
10/15/2026

Snow is starting to fall, which means VAC is ramping up for another season of bringing you the most up to date avalanche information. We wanted to kick things off with some new research that hits especially close to home.

A recent study by Forest Wagner and Glenn Wright looked at 736 survey responses collected from Alaska backcountry skiers and riders over four winters to explore how exposure, training, risk perception, and our touring partners shape the decisions we make in avalanche terrain.

Forest is a graduate of the UAS Outdoor Leadership program and later went on to run the program, and his research focuses on cognitive bias among backcountry skiers and riders.

A few findings caught our attention: exposure was the strongest predictor of reported avalanche involvement; formal training was associated with more safety behaviors but not fewer reported incidents or near misses; and the habits of experienced touring partners were strongly associated with our own.

The takeaway for us? Training matters—but avalanche safety is also social. The people we learn from, practice with, communicate with, and travel with help shape the decisions we make in the mountains.

Swipe through for a few highlights from the study ➡️

🔗 Read the full study: Risky Rewards: Tempering Cognitive Bias with Best Practices, a Survey of Alaskan Backcountry Skiers & Riders — Wagner & Wright, 2026. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291126008880?via%3Dihub

And as forecasts come online this winter, make checking alaskasnow.org/valdez part of your routine before heading out.

Fairbanks! 📣 Join us at Lavelle’s Taphouse this coming Saturday, May 2nd, from 4-7pm to show your support for Valdez Ava...
04/28/2026

Fairbanks! 📣 Join us at Lavelle’s Taphouse this coming Saturday, May 2nd, from 4-7pm to show your support for Valdez Avalanche Center and Eastern Alaska Range Avalanche Center! There will be some awesome door prizes and a few exciting silent auction items!

•Two round trip Deluxe Dome Railcar Seats Anchorage to Denali on the Wilderness Express Railroad
•1 night at Black Rapids Lodge
•2 nights at Alpine Creek Lodge (food included)

Thank you for sharing and spreading the word to friends! ❄️ We appreciate the businesses that have donated items and thank you Lavelle’s Taphouse for hosting us!!

04/26/2026

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Deep storm slabs were found to be top heavy and sensitive today. With lots of natural avalanche activity. Get the forecast at www.alaskasnow.org/valdez

04/23/2026

April 21st update from Josh on Schoolbus

Read the full forecast at alaskasnow.org/valdez

Near miss on Loveland Peak – 4/18/26Here is what we have ascertained from a snowmachine-triggered avalanche on April 18....
04/22/2026

Near miss on Loveland Peak – 4/18/26

Here is what we have ascertained from a snowmachine-triggered avalanche on April 18.

A rider traveling up the commonly used Loveland uptrack did not stop at the summit ridge and inadvertently continued onto the south face of Loveland Peak. The impact triggered a large D3 avalanche estimated to be ~1400 ft wide and running ~1600 vertical feet through rock bands.

Crown depth was estimated between 16 inches and 2 feet, though cloud cover made observations challenging. The primary debris flow appears to have triggered a secondary avalanche in the lower third of the path, with debris deposits reported up to 4.5 feet deep.

The involved rider was able to arrest on the bed surface, climb back to the ridge, and travel on foot toward the highway, where they were picked up by another snowmachine and transported to DOT.

Several riders witnessed the event and quickly notified experienced snow professionals and local responders. A rescue party initiated a beacon search at the toe of the debris after confirming the rider could not be visually identified from above. Search efforts were halted once the group learned the rider had safely exited the path.

Conditions at the time of the incident were rated CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. A foot or more of new snow was poorly bonded to older surfaces, and deeper weak layers remain a concern. Since the avalanche, we have received an additional 1+ feet of new snow, and dangerous avalanche conditions persist.

More details on current conditions can be found at alaskasnow.org/valdez. The next forecast will be posted Wednesday 4/22 at 8am.

Thank you to Jeremy Hanke () of (Revelstoke, BC) for sharing observations and the detailed image.

Image description: Red line: Primary and secondary crown. Purple Area: Bed surface. Yelow area: Primary debris fields. Green area: secondary debris field. Black line: path of snowmachine travel of rescuer. Pink line: On foot line of travel of rescuer performing initial signal search. Small green circle: Location of spotting/ safety team as hang fire remained on the slope above.

04/21/2026

Monday April 20th update from Paul at 3,000 feet on Cracked Ice.

Storm slabs are very sensitive and human triggered avalanches are likely at middle and upper elevations due to recent loading from the new snow and wind.

The next forecast will be issued 8:00am on Wednesday April 22nd at alaskasnow.org/valdez

Join us, Saturday April 25th from 5-9pm for our end of season pint night at Valdez Brewing! $1 of every b**r purchased g...
04/20/2026

Join us, Saturday April 25th from 5-9pm for our end of season pint night at Valdez Brewing!

$1 of every b**r purchased goes to the VAC.

We will have trivia and will be showing Northern Aspects Film Fest!

Thanks Egan Gleason for the photo!

04/14/2026

April 13th update from Josh on the hill climb venue – read the full forecast at alaskasnow.org/valdez

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from VAC & Valdez Parks & Rec! 🐰❄️🌷

Address

Valdez, AK
99686

Telephone

+19072557690

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