Embedded Files
Lindsey Clark
How do I recognize avalanche terrain?
How do I recognize avalanche terrain?
The third step of the Ride Safely Checklist guides you through a series of questions designed to help your group assess if terrain ahead of you is in line with your plan.
Does our terrain choice match with our strategy to limit avalanche exposure (terrain mindset)?
Does our terrain choice match with our strategy to limit avalanche exposure (terrain mindset)?
Your group agreed on and adapted to a terrain mindset informed by your uncertainty about conditions as part of the planning steps of the Framework. This question asks you to consider how your current exposure and terrain choices align with agreed strategies to limit exposure. Your response can help you correct errors early, limiting additional exposure.
Does this slope have the same aspect/elevation as today’s avalanche problem?
Does this slope have the same aspect/elevation as today’s avalanche problem?
Evaluate slopes you intend to cross or ride with this criteria. This question addresses the spatial component of forecasted avalanche conditions and can help you manage slope scale uncertainty.
Is the steepest part of the slope inclined near or above 35°?
Is the steepest part of the slope inclined near or above 35°?
Measure the slope angle to accurately assess your exposure. Identifying slope angle is a key terrain skill for route finding and managing exposure. Slab avalanches can occur on slopes ranging from below 30° to above 50°, but activity spikes considerably on slopes near to 35°. Measure the slope with an inclinometer as slope shading on maps often underestimates slope angle or may miss some features in the terrain.
Measuring a slope angle over a whole slope may miss small sections that are locally steeper.
Is there a dangerous slope above, or a terrain trap below?
Is there a dangerous slope above, or a terrain trap below?
Identify steep open slopes and avalanche paths above you, and use maps and other tools when visibility is limited. Evaluate the consequences of an avalanche. Identify terrain traps including roads, benches, creek beds, lakes, stands of trees and anywhere that the consequences of a slide can be amplified.
Lindsey Clark
Gullies
Grant Gunderson
Trees
AIARE
Road Cuts
Chris Meder
Crevasses
Chris Meder
Creeks
Interactive: Click on the terrain traps you see in this photo.
Please note: This activity does not work on mobile devices.Is the slope a known or obvious avalanche path?
Is the slope a known or obvious avalanche path?
Look for evidence of past avalanches. Flagged or broken trees can indicate historical trim lines, or the edges of large avalanches from previous events. Frequent or dangerous avalanche paths are often named, occasionally for a rider who triggered a slide there. Use historical knowledge and observations from each ride to build your atlas of known avalanche paths in areas you frequently ride.
Interactive
Interactive
Click on the avalanche paths or signs of avalanches you see in this photo.
Please note: This activity does not work on mobile devices.Are there steep convex roll overs and other hard to avoid trigger points?
Are there steep convex roll overs and other hard to avoid trigger points?
Slopes that feature trigger points such as steep convexities or thin rocky areas are more prone to avalanches than concave slopes with more uniform snow distribution. Increasingly complex terrain will feature fewer options for avoiding trigger points.
Interactive
Interactive
Click on the trigger points you see in this photo. There are two photos in this interactive – hit next after you find all the points on the first photo.
Please note: This activity does not work on mobile devices.Is this a committing slope? Once there, will we still have a less consequential option?
Is this a committing slope? Once there, will we still have a less consequential option?
Recognize terrain that funnels the group on to slopes and into routes with fewer options for reducing risk. A slope or route that requires commitment leaves less room for error or escape.
Page updated
Report abuse