An intro to avalanche safety
Tempted to go beyond the rope? Venture outside the resort? Make sure you know your stuff! Avalanche safety knowledge is super vital when venturing into unmarked terrain. So swat up – and get stoked to learn a new skill – with our handy introduction.
Fresh tracks. Gnarly tree lines. Rooster tails. These are the rewards that await those that ride outside the resort. But you don’t have to go into the deep backcountry to get your fill. Exploring the slackcountry, scoring fresh pow between trails, and playing in in-bounds glades are often just as fun. But whether you’re inside the ropes or not, when it comes to untouched pow, there’s always a risk… Avalanches.
Yep, we hate to be the ultimate buzzkill, but avalanches are a real thing – whether you’re in the middle of nowhere or just the other side of patrolled, groomed slopes. So, being prepped and knowledgeable about being safe is probably the most important skill on the mountain (well, after knowing how to ride, of course). But what do you need to know? And where should you start? No sweat – we’re here with six tips and a digestible, quick-fire intro to avalanche safety.
At Dope Mag, we always think about the bigger picture – and respect those mountains. Now, you can pair our latest collection of ski pants for men and ski pants for women with your fresh knowledge and avalanche safety gear, get out there, and – most importantly – stay safe.
Avalanche safety tips
How and why do avalanches happen?
Check the avalanche forecast
Buy avalanche safety gear
Look for the Five Red Flags
Take an avalanche safety course
Minimize risks
Understand the myths and misconceptions
How and why do avalanches happen?
An avalanche is a wave of snow moving down the mountain at high speed. This wave comes in all shapes and sizes. And even a small slide can be fatal. In fact, they kill between 25 and 30 riders in the US each season, over 150 skiers and snowboarders worldwide, and injure many more. So, the more information you know, the more you can reduce the risk of becoming caught in one.
You might assume ferocious avalanches only happen on giant, wild Alaskan faces, with pro freeriders charging near-vertical lines. But did you know they can also occur near patrolled borders and even (rarely) inbounds? Typically, three vital factors set them off: terrain, unstable snow, and triggers.
Terrain
The one thing to burn into your memory is that slopes between 30 and 45 degrees are prime avalanche territory. Anything mellower than 30 degrees is often not steep enough for them. And slabs are less common on anything above 45 degrees – but that’s kill-your-thighs steep, anyway.
You don’t have to be on a 40-degree slope to be in an avalanche, though. You could cruise and play on a mellower trail below a steep run that suddenly slides. So always consider connected runs and the terrain above and around you.
Unstable snow
If snow can slide downhill super easily, it’s unstable. And all kinds of things can make it fragile, including temperature, direct sun, wind, and more.
Of course, aspect and slope orientation play a part. For example, steep south-facing runs are way more prone to avalanches on sunny afternoons as the sun heats the snow and affects its stability. Be mindful of wind direction, too. Which way does it blow? Prevailing winds drive snow into big, heavy piles, which are prime to slough off and cause a slide.
Triggers
Ah, triggers. These pesky things can be the final nail in the proverbial (and often literal) coffin. Triggers can be natural, such as wind and temperature changes, however, they’re most commonly caused by us humans – and no one ever wants to be that person.
In 90% of avalanches, the victim or someone in their group triggers the slide. This is known as ‘Human Factors’ or ‘Heuristic Traps’ and is thought to be down to elements such as group pressure, overconfidence, shortcuts, and closed-mindedness (i.e., not wanting to cancel or alter your route when conditions change). However, there are ways to minimize your risks. And we’ll get into these further in the article.
Avalanche types
So, you think all avalanches are equal? Think again! There are varying types, including:
- Slab avalanches – The most common type, where weak, often windblown snow struggles to mesh with existing layers. This forms a ‘slab’ of snow that’s weakly attached to the snow beneath, which breaks loose and slides
- Cornices – Made by wind, cornices can be small, soft snow wind lips or gigantic chowder overhangs. In risky conditions, they can collapse, taking you out in their path or triggering a slab avalanche
- Glide avalanche – When the entire snowpack gives way on a smooth ground surface, such as grass or a bump-free bedrock
- Loose snow avalanche – A small amount of snow releases in one place (usually after snowfall or warm temperatures) and gathers more and more snow until a full-blown avalanche forms (your classic snowball effect)
- Slough – Also known as ‘sluff’, this is a small loose snow avalanche made of dry powder. As they don’t form into a mass, these aren’t powerful enough to carry or bury you. However, many riders pull their airbags so as not to risk it
- Wet avalanche – Created when water builds up inside the snowpack. These avalanches might look like unthreatening slush, but they act more like cement, shifting rocks and boulders on their descent
Now, let’s explore the six steps to reduce your chances of getting caught in an avalanche. Remember, nothing is certain regarding avalanche terrain, so always be responsible for your own safety and aware of your surroundings.
1. Check the avalanche forecast
If you’re veering off marked terrain, you must prioritize checking the avalanche forecast. This daily forecast assesses the avalanche danger and snowpack conditions within your resort and region. And, remember – it doesn’t mean it’s safe out there because the resort’s ski patrol was blasting and setting off controlled slides in the morning. Conditions change constantly, so always check before heading out the door.
But what are you looking at? The Avalanche Danger Scale: a universal, color-coded warning system ranging from one to five. These five tiers represent different danger levels: Low, Moderate, and Considerable, High, Extreme. The forecast goes into greater detail, telling you patterns (such as if it’s wet avalanches), predicted size and aspect/elevation (i.e., above, near, or below the treeline), and travel advice.
2. Buy avalanche safety gear
Okay, mid-way pop quiz: what triggers avalanches the most? Humans! So that means your off-piste and slackcountry crew should invest in (or hire) avalanche safety gear.
Heard of the phrase ‘All the gear and no idea’? Yeah, don’t be that person. Avalanche victims have a high chance of surviving if freed within the first 15 minutes of burial. So every second counts – and you’ll need to spend them using your equipment rather than wondering how it all works. Let’s get into what to have in your pack.
Transceiver
Also known as a beacon, this is a small electronic device that transmits or receives electromagnetic signals. It’s like ‘Find My Phone’ – except the ‘phone’ is someone buried in an avalanche. We know – it’s not nice to think about! Each transceiver has a slightly different interface, but most will direct you to the buried person via arrows and beeps. And the louder and quicker the succession of beeps, the closer you are to the buried person.
However, the cardinal sin before heading off into the trees or hitting the secret side stash is forgetting to turn your transceiver on. So, make sure you and everyone in your crew have theirs activated. In the unthinkable situation where someone’s buried, everyone must turn their transceiver into ‘Search’ mode (sometimes called ‘Receive’ mode). This allows you to track and locate the trapped person’s transceiver signal. If a group member doesn’t switch to ‘Search’ mode, you might very well follow their transceiver signal instead, wasting valuable time. So, always double-check that everyone nearby is on the right setting.
Probe
Once your transceiver is beeping like crazy, it’s a good sign the buried person is below you. Now, you need your snow probe. These lightweight, collapsible poles tell you how deep down your friend is trapped, thanks to colored or centimeter markings.
You’ll jab one into the snow, push down, and feel when you hit your person. Don’t feel anything? Take the pole out and try again in a nearby spot. This might sound tedious, but it saves mega amounts of time compared to digging in the wrong place and not knowing how far down to go!
Shovel
Once you’ve located your crew member, dig like hell! You’ll definitely get a sweat on, but shoveling snow is lightning speed compared to using anything else. Turn the shovel over and dig with the back of the shovel facing away from you, moving it in the same direction as paddling on a kayak. You’ll move shed more snow that way.
Worried that riding around with a shovel will be killer on your back and shoulders? Fret not – avalanche snow shovels are typically super lightweight. Just don’t opt for a plastic one, as metal lasts way longer and is less likely to snap when digging. The handle also collapses to give you more space to pack snacks!
Avalanche airbag
Okay, an avalanche airbag (also known as an avibag, ABS bag, or airbag pack) is more for deep backcountry days and epic off-piste lines. So, if you’re playing near slopes within the resort, you might not need one. However, it doesn’t hurt to know what they are and what they do – especially as your confidence builds and those steeper faces look more tantalising.
An avalanche airbag is an inflatable pack, compressed tight until you need it. If you’re ever unlucky enough to feel the snowpack give way underneath you, deploy the pack immediately. Orange ‘wings’ inflate out of the pack to increase your chances of keeping near the avalanche surface. Some riders call them angel wings – and it’s easy to see why, with airbags statistically increasing your chances of survival from 11 to 22% when caught in a large-scale, destructive slide.
Practice
Having shiny new kit is nice. But it’s so important to practice with it! That’s because you only have moments to act when an avalanche happens. And you’ll need to know exactly how each item operates to find your buried people in time. Sorry to be that buzzkill again…
Practice with your crew! Get your friend to bury their pack and transceiver in the snow without you knowing where. Then, when ready, turn your transceiver onto ‘Search’ mode and try to locate them within a 15-minute window. Once you’re confident you’re above or super close to the pack, use your probe and shovel. Just remember that lifties will often have their transceivers on, so make sure your friend stops you from wandering over to a lift hut unnecessarily. Not that we’re talking from experience or anything…
3. Look for the Five Red Flags
Now, it’s time to keep your eyes peeled for the Five Red Flags. These are warning signs of heightened avalanche danger, championed by backcountry legend Jeremy Jones. Spot one or more? Listen to nature, turn around, and head home.
New snow
Another fact for ya: did you know 90% of human-triggered avalanches happen during the first 24 hours after a storm? *Gulp*. That’s all down to fresh snow buildup. So, after any storm, always assume a high-to-extreme risk within that 24-hour window, and act accordingly.
We know the temptation for storm riding and scoring those deep freshies the first morning after an overnight nuking can be overwhelming. But follow this rule to a tee. Doing so will wipe the risk of becoming caught in an avalanche by 90%. And we’ll take those stats any day!
Recent avalanches
If you’re told of a recent avalanche or spot the signs of one, you know the snow is unstable. Telltale signs of active slide terrain are large scattered chunks of snow (known as avalanche debris). Alternatively, you’ll see a fracture line or a trail where the avalanche has broken off from the snowpack.
See the remnants of a slide, but not sure it’s recent? Air on the side of caution and assume it is. As an off-piste guide once told us, “It’s always better to be a scared chicken than a brave lion when it comes to avalanche safety”.
Cracks and ‘Whumping’
Cracks can be small or run the length of a vertical face. No matter their size, though, they’re a clear sign of unstable snowpack and to avoid the area. Think of them like cracks on ice – you wouldn’t want to step any further, right?
And, no, we haven’t lost it! ‘Whumping’ (or ‘whomping’) is the technical term for the classic, loud noise heard when an unstable snowpack collapses. The ‘whump’ sound results from air releasing from the snowpack. Think of it as the audible clue you’re in high avalanche-risk terrain.
Rapid rise in temperature
Quick temperature changes massively increase the likelihood of avalanches, because the snow can melt rapidly – turning your snowpack from ‘decent’ to ‘devastating’.
Significant weather changes don’t make the snowpack unstable for only a few hours – it can be several days at a time. So, take extra care on the first few sunny, warm days after a storm.
Strong winds
It’s not only new snowfall that increases avalanche risk. Snow which has been sitting for weeks or months can still be affected by high winds. Wind-lips and cornices especially are susceptible to breaking loose during storms or high-wind periods.
So, you see wind and snow whipping over ridges, even if it’s calmer in the valley below, take extra care. Strong, dense windlips and cornices are heavy and can cause devastating slides.
4. Take an avalanche safety course
Want to dive deeper into elements of avalanche safety? Book yourself on an avalanche safety course. Almost every country has its own course system. For example, the US has AIARE (The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education). And don’t forget that most regions host courses at their avalanche centers.
Avalanche safety courses range from basic knowledge for recreational riders (Levels 1 and 2) to in-depth, advanced sessions, requiring both hours in the classroom and in the field (Level 5+). Some are free, while others are more costly. You can also take a refresher course, continue your learning online, or book a one-on-one sesh with a professional guide. Whichever route you choose, remember that avalanche safety is a deep subject with tons of things to learn and practice. It’s all done with your well-being in mind, though, so you can ride responsibly while respecting those mountains.
5. Minimize risks
Although we can’t eliminate all risks on the mountain, there are a few ways to minimize them while you’re just starting out in the backcountry. These include…
- Only riding on unpatrolled, ungroomed slopes with a gradient of less than 30 degrees.
- Checking the avalanche forecast before leaving the house.
- Going with a crew. Never venture off-piste alone, even if it’s only a few meters from marked trails!
- Making sure every member of your riding crew has avalanche safety gear and knows how to use it.
- Laying tracks one group member at a time.
- Always keep a safe distance (and interval) between each rider in order to reduce the stress on the snowpack and the risk of multiple burials. Yes, this goes for tree riding, too!
- Identifying potential terrain traps on your route. These are points in the terrain that’d usually be fine (such as small cliff drops, gullies, and tight tree lines) but become a lot more dangerous once an avalanche happens.
- Turning back if you see or hear any of the Five Red Flags.
- Trusting your gut. Let your group know if something feels ‘off,’ or you don’t feel comfortable. Venturing the other side of the rope is all about teamwork, so when someone says something’s wrong, abort the mission as a collective and hit the park or après instead!
6. Understand the myths and misconceptions
You know you sometimes hear something over and over again, so you believe it’s true? Well, that happens a lot with avalanche myths and misconceptions. Unfortunately, believing them can cost your life. So, let’s debunk them right away!
“It’s safe because there are already tracks!”
No, no! Just because someone’s already laid tracks doesn’t mean an area’s safe from avalanches. Plus, if it hasn’t snowed, the tracks could be a day or two old – when the snow was better and more stable!
“I skied this three days ago! It’s totally safe!”
As we alluded to above, snowpack stability and conditions change constantly. What you rode that was perfect safe three days ago could be dangerous today!
“You can’t get avalanches in the trees!”
Wrong! Many people play through the trees, thinking they’re 100% safe from avalanches – especially if they can see marked trails nearby! But do you remember what we said about steep slopes above or around you? If the risk is high, one can easily start from an exposed face above and hit the trees you’re in.
“Come on – this is way too mellow for an avalanche to happen!”
A slope with a 30-degree gradient can look fairly tame – particularly when there’s a lot of pow on top! But, as we know, anything 30 degrees or greater is the most common gradient for avalanches. Unsure how steep something is? Download FATMAP. You’ll see the aspect and steepness of each run in 3D – plus the potential avalanche risk. Handy, right? Always check the Avalanche Forecast, though.
“The Avalanche Forecast says the danger rating is 1/Low. We’re totally fine!”
It’s vital to always analyze the risks – even if the Avalanche Forecast is minimal and you’re ‘only’ playing off the sides of the groomers. In fact, many people say a Danger Rating of 2 is actually the most harmful – it’s classed as ‘Moderate’, so people take steeper lines and greater risks thinking a 2 out of 5 danger rating means there’s only a 2 out of 5 chance an avalanche will happen! Nope! Remember, nothing is ever 100% certain when it comes to avalanche safety.
Wrapping up
There we have it – a crash course in avalanche safety! We hope we haven’t made things too daunting for you, but it’s important to be aware of the risks when riding new terrain and pushing your limits. Don’t forget to have the right insurance as well – standard inbounds insurance rarely covers heli or off-piste rescue and medical care if you’re beyond the resort boundaries or on unmarked terrain and something goes wrong. And always know your resort’s ski patrol and emergency rescue number in case the worst happens.
Ultimately, keeping safe is your responsibility. But we’re always here to help answer any questions or point you in the right direction to someone who can. So, drop us a message at crew@dopesnow.com, and we’ll get back to you right away. Stay safe out there, guys, and happy shredding!
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