Ski and Snowboard Tours: Avalanche Awareness and Avoidance

Slab avalanches are the most common type of avalanche and occur when a cohesive slab of snow breaks away from the snowpack and slides down a slope.

Avalanches are most likely to occur on steep slopes with an unstable snowpack and heavy snowfall.

The best way to avoid avalanches is to stay on marked trails, avoid avalanche-prone areas, and carry avalanche safety gear.

All of the above are important pieces of avalanche safety gear. An avalanche beacon helps rescuers find you if you are buried in an avalanche, an avalanche shovel helps you dig out buried victims, and an avalanche probe helps you locate buried victims.

If you see signs of an impending avalanche, you should leave the area immediately, find a safe place to shelter, and call for help.

Avalanches can happen anywhere, anytime, even on slopes that seem safe. It is important to be aware of the risk of avalanches and to take steps to avoid them.

A cornice is a snow formation that hangs over a cliff or steep slope, while a wind slab is a layer of snow that has been deposited by the wind.

Slab avalanches are the most dangerous type of avalanche because they can travel at high speeds and carry large amounts of snow.

Traveling in a group is the best way to travel in avalanche-prone areas because you can help each other out if someone is caught in an avalanche.

The recommended slope angle for skiing or snowboarding in avalanche-prone areas is 30 degrees or less.

If you are caught in an avalanche, the most important thing to do is to stay calm and try to breathe. Trying to swim to the surface or dig yourself out will only use up your energy and make it more difficult for rescuers to find you.

The average survival rate for people caught in avalanches is 90%.

Suffocation is the most common cause of death in avalanches.

Educating people about avalanche safety is the best way to prevent avalanches.

Avalanches can happen anywhere, anytime, even on slopes that seem safe. It is important to be aware of the risk of avalanches and to take steps to avoid them.