Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center indefinitely suspended backcountry avalanche forecasts March 30. The decision was made in response to the state’s increasing coronavirus health mandates, said Alicia King, public affairs officer for the Forest Service.
While carrying out avalanche forecasts, Forest Service employees must work in teams and travel significant distances, practices that are difficult to reconcile with social distancing and travel-limiting guidelines designed to impede the spread of the coronavirus.
“Our folks are spread out, and it would require them going from one community to another,” King said. “In light of the governor’s mandates and the health and wellbeing of our employees and of the public, we felt that it was in the best interest to suspend the forecasting.”
Center staff will continue to publish weather data and avalanche information online. In the meantime, residents are asked to be cautious outdoors and to limit risky activity, King said.
“While we recognize that getting outdoors is a great activity to help keep you healthy, do it following the CDC guidelines,” King said.
