Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of McKay Savage
Types
There are three types of avalanches: Dry snow or sluff avalanches, wet snow avalanches, and slab avalanches. Most avalanche hazard recognition courses deal with slab avalanches.
Terrain
Most slab avalanches occur in terrain with a slope of between 25 and 60 degrees.
Icefall
Mountain ice can suddenly break loose; falling chunks may pose a serious, even deadly danger to those below.
Falls
Slippery ice or hard-packed snow both contribute to the hazard of an unintentional slip. Once you start sliding down a mountain out of control, it's hard--sometimes impossible--to stop yourself.
Crevasse
Crevasses can open up in mountainous glacier ice and may be hundreds of feet deep; glide cracks are a similar phenomenon that occurs in snow, but they are usually not as deep since the snow pack itself is shallower.
Fun Fact
Despite the name, an "ice axe" is used as a safety tool on both snow and ice in mountainous areas.
Article Written By Marie Mulrooney
Marie Mulrooney has written professionally since 2001. Her diverse background includes numerous outdoor pursuits, personal training and linguistics. She studied mathematics and contributes regularly to various online publications. Mulrooney's print publication credits include national magazines, poetry awards and long-lived columns about local outdoor adventures.
