Basic Rule
The basic rule for choosing a safe route in avalanche terrain is: avoid steep slopes on a high risk days. You should never traverse across a suspect slope or below. Even if it’s the quickest way, you should never break that simple rule.
When travelling in avalanche terrain, you should start to get a feel for the steepness of the terrain, by estimating the slope angles. When the stability is assessed on low angled terrain, it can be assumed that the angle of the slope becomes steeper, the stability will become poorer.
Safe Terrain
The following that avoid steep slopes that are generally safe route choice in avalanche terrain.
-
Ridge tops, knolls and ribs that avoid steep terrain.
-
Wide valleys that are some distance away from any potential hazards and avalanche paths.
-
Low angle slopes with no steep terrain above.
-
Dense forests
Unsafe Terrain
The choice of safe terrain is not always possible. Often the case, travelling on steep slopes is the only option, because there isn’t any possible safe route for a ascent and decent.
-
Areas with deposition of drifting snow should be avoided.
-
The leeward side of ridges, knolls, ribs, depressions on steep terrain, tops of gullies and bowls.
-
Be aware of short steep slopes, moraines and road cuts.
Terrain Around Unstable Snowpack
The following examples of the terrain you find around a unstable snowpack.
-
Avoid terrain were small avalanches could be hazardous when the snowpack in unstable.
-
Rocks, ice, gullies and narrow valleys.
-
Terrain traps need to be avoided, because a small avalanche could deposit deep snow and increase the chance of a deep burial.
-
Avoid steep terrain above drop off’s and cliffs.
