Avalanche Basics
- Avalanches occur when the crystalline bonds between snow crystals break and gravity overcomes friction.
- Avalanches are categorized on a scale of one to five based on size and destructive potential.
- The snowpack is made up of layers that change over time due to weather conditions.
- Avalanches are common after storms due to the extra weight of the snow.
- Strong winds can increase the risk of avalanches by creating dense, cohesive layers of snow called wind slabs.
- Cornices, which are formed when the wind blows snow over the top of a ridge, can weigh many tons and trigger massive slab avalanches when they fall.
Types of Avalanches
- There are two main types of avalanches: slab and loose.
- Loose avalanches are characterized by loose snow that fans out after being triggered.
- Slab avalanches involve a cohesive layer of snow that breaks away in large chunks.
- Slab avalanches are more prevalent on slopes between 34 and 45 degrees.
- Slab avalanches can be triggered remotely from a distance.
Avalanche Safety
- Avalanche beacons are transceivers that send and receive electromagnetic waves, helping locate buried skiers.
- Avalanche airbags increase buoyancy and create air pockets, improving survival chances.
- Checking the avalanche forecast and making informed decisions is crucial for safety.
- Three essential items for backcountry skiing are a beacon, a probe, and a shovel.
- Deaths from avalanches do occasionally occur in bounds at resorts, but they are very rare. Most avalanche injuries and deaths occur in the backcountry.
- Avalanches mostly affect backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers.
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