Alaskan Ryan Leindecker captured this video of a substantial avalanche at Byron Glacier Trail in Portage Valley far out on the Alaska Peninsula. The avalanche occurred around 2:42pm on Sunday, May 11.
Ryan explains that he originally mistook the avalanche for an airplane before quickly retrieving his phone and capturing the event on camera. Fortunately no injuries were reported from the slide, though a portion of the trail did become snow-covered.
“Today, at 2:42 pm, Byron Glacier experienced a substantial avalanche. As I glanced up, I momentarily mistook the avalanche for an airplane. I quickly retrieved my phone and captured the majority of the event on camera.” – Ryan Leindecker
Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center state that the slide was a large wet springtime avalanche that sent debris to the floor of the valley. According to the organization, these types of avalanches can be extremely dangers and staying far from steep slopes this time of year is incredibly important to stay safe in the mountains.
“Staying well away from steep slopes is critical for this time of year as long as snow is still on the slopes. Hot and sunny afternoons as well as rainy/stormy weather are the times most likely for springtime avalanches to occur.” – Friends of the Chugach Avalanche Center
