Avoiding Avalanches While Backcountry Skiing or Snowboarding

Improve your skiing or snowboarding skills. The backcountry requires expert, not just advanced skills. You need to be skilled at deep powder and extremely steep skiing or riding. Less-competent skiers and riders may inadvertently set off an avalanche.

Hire a trained guide. Backcountry guides are familiar with avalanche warning signs and avalanche avoidance techniques.

Pack the proper equipment, which includes an avalanche beacon, probe, shovel and backcountry ski and snowboard gear.

Understand the avalanche risks of a given slope. Slope angles that exceed 25 degrees are more prone to avalanches than flatter slopes. Additionally, recent accumulation of snow combined with heavy wind might precipitate an avalanche. During spring conditions, when slushy snow is higher than your boot, the slopes may be more prone to avalanches. Additionally, if a similar slope has recently experienced a slide, the slope you are considering might also be susceptible. All of this information will be readily available in a local weather report and newspaper. You can also use the searchable avalanche incident database listed in the resource section.

Learn about potential avalanche start locations. These are also called crown fracture points, and include areas such as trees, cornices and rock faces. If weather conditions predispose an area to avalanches, there's a strong possibility that one will start in any of these areas.