About Tutshi

This page shows the current backcountry snow report, avalanche forecast, and weather conditions for Tutshi. Check the danger rating, field observations, and Doctor's Orders summary above before heading out.

The Tutshi region encompasses the mountain terrain around Tutshi Lake and the upper Taku River drainage in the southern Yukon, positioned at the northern terminus of the Coast Mountains as they merge with the Interior plateau country near Carcross. This area is defined by the abrupt transition from the deeply carved glacial troughs of the southern Yukon to the more open, sub-arctic plateau landscape to the north, with the peaks of the Boundary Ranges rising directly from lake level and the terrain offering a mix of glaciated high-alpine objectives and moderate subalpine touring on the surrounding benches. The South Klondike Highway provides the primary access corridor, connecting Carcross and Skagway through the heart of the region. The snow climate in the Tutshi region reflects its position at the intersection of residual Pacific maritime influence and the intensely continental conditions of the southern Yukon interior. Snowfall is moderate and the snowpack character varies dramatically depending on elevation and aspect — lower terrain near the lake systems can be wind-scoured and thin, while upper alpine terrain accumulates more substantial snow from the occasional Pacific system that penetrates this far north. Cold temperature extremes are severe by coastal BC standards, and the snowpack can develop extensive depth hoar layers in the lower and mid-snowpack during the prolonged cold periods that characterize the Yukon winter. Awareness of the rapid onset of polar conditions and the dramatic spatial variability of the snowpack is essential for travel in this region.

Terrain within this zone includes: Carcross, Tutshi Lake, South Klondike Highway, Boundary Ranges.