An avalanche is a very real winter hazard, especially in steeper ravines. Everyone in your group should have a good knowledge of avalanche safety. Education and training are critical, so each member of your group should take an avalanche safety course. Steep slopes with unstable deep snow hold the deadly risk of avalanche. If you hike in the mountains in winter, here is some avalanche information you need to know:
- Check local avalanche conditions before you go.
- When in doubt, ask questions or don't go.
- Most avalanches occur during or immediately after a snowstorm.
- Never travel alone. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue beacons, probes and shovels when your party is in avalanche terrain.
- Avoid steep, open areas of snow.
- Unstable snow conditions can persist for several days after a storm.
The Avalanche Danger Scale
The guidelines before describing avalanche probability should be used with your judgement, experience and local knowledge.- Low (green): Natural avalanches unlikely. Human trigger avalanches unlikely. Travel is generally safe. Normal caution advised.
- Moderate (yellow): Natural avalanches unlikely. Human triggered avalanches possible. Use caution in steeper terrain on certain aspects.
- Considerable (orange): Natural avalanches possible. Human triggered avalanches probable. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain.
- High (red): Natural and human triggered avalanches likely. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
- Extreme (red with black border): Widespread natural or human triggered avalanches certain. Avoid travel in avalanche terrain. Confine travel to low angle terrain well away from avalanche path run-outs.
