Anchorage Daily News

Chugach National Forest remains closed to snowmachine traffic because there's not enough snow to prevent machine tracks from tearing up the ground.

Matt Murphy of the Forest Service said there's about 27 inches of snow at the Turnagain Pass parking lot. He said it was snowing Sunday, "and as soon as there's sufficient snow coverage we'll open it. We want to open it as soon as we can," he said.

Though avalanches in the backcountry are a possibility, the Forest Service doesn't restrict usage for that reason, Murphy said. The forest isn't managed like a ski area, which may close if avalanches endanger skiers.

"We try to inform people about avalanche hazards, but we don't close it because of avalanches," he said. "So when you see a sign that says it's open, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe."

Snowmachiners and skiers are advised to check the Forest Service hotline (754-2369) or Web site (www.avalanche.org). Murphy expects to update the recorded report today.

"There's been so much interesting weather I think I need to put out again," he said. "The weather's been crazy."