Eaglecrest Ski Patrol received a report of an avalanche in closed terrain in the East Bowl Chutes at 10:10 a.m. Thursday.
Upon ski patrol’s investigation, they found a large avalanche approximately six to seven feet deep and approximately 75 and 100 yards. No injuries were reported.
Kristen Strom, marketing and events manager for Eaglecrest said those portions of the mountain had been closed since last Sunday and the closures were not related to Thursday’s avalanche.
“We kept them closed all week due to warm temperatures and rain affecting our fragile snowpack,” Strom said. “Since things froze over Friday night, they are remaining closed for our guests’ safety Saturday and Sunday. It’s rare that an avalanche like this occurs in bounds, so we need to take every precaution before considering reopening East Chutes and West Bowl areas.”
According to a post on Eaglecrest’s Facebook page, a preliminary avalanche transceiver search was launched which was followed by a secondary transceiver search. Eaglecrest’s Reconnaissance detection equipment was dispatched for the search. Additionally, Alaska Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search, Juneau Mountain Rescue and the Alaska State Troopers were also notified and called to the scene. SEADOGS performed a two dog search and the ski patrol staff probed through debris and catchment spots carefully to ensure that no one was entrapped despite those portions of the mountain being closed for the day.
Eaglecrest has reported having gone through a “very active week of weather” with inches of rain and snow water with equivalent moisture over the last seven days. According to Eaglecrest, the mountain had “extremely limited terrain” open on Thursday off the top of the mountain as the ski area staff was allowing the snowpack to adjust to all of the additional weight and drain.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
