KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

By Ali Gray

The winter season is underway! It’s time to think about skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, climbing on ice or snow, sledding, and any other way people get outside to enjoy the magical mountain landscape in the winter. But hidden underneath all that beauty can sometimes be what many in the industry often call a “dragon”— avalanches.

Avalanches are perhaps the largest threat in the winter, depending on where you are. The nuances of traveling safely in avalanche terrain, recognizing unstable snow, performing a search and rescue, and mitigating human factors are beyond the scope of this piece, but here are some broad ideas to get you thinking. And remember, not only skiers and snowboarders can trigger or get caught in avalanches—this goes for snowshoers, hikers, and anyone else traveling in the snowy mountains too!

Slope angle

Any slope can technically slide, but those between 30 and 45 degrees have a much higher risk. Unfortunately, these slopes are also the most sought-after for skiing and snowboarding, a perfect blue square or black diamond run. And avalanches can travel far into valley floors or across flat terrain, so make sure to pay attention to the slopes above you.

Terrain traps

It’s important to pay close attention to your surroundings when traveling in the mountains or foothills in the winter. Even a small slide can build up snow into a gully or creek bed and bury you, or carry you off a cliff. Avoiding what we call “terrain traps” is a good way to mitigate your risk, so travel along ridgelines, don’t cross above cliffs, and avoid the center of bowls or other large clearings in the trees. Generally (but not always!), tight trees are safer to travel in since they can hold the snow in place.

Signs from the snow

Paying attention to sounds the snow makes and what it looks like is a great way to mitigate avalanche risk. If the snow starts collapsing or sliding, if it sounds hollow or makes a “wumphing” sound, or if you see shooting cracks, make a 180 and get out of there! Avoiding areas with windaffected snow (look for drifts or ripples on the snow surface) is also a good idea. If you see signs of recent avalanche activity, avoid those areas and any similar terrain.

Get the training

Reading this short piece is no substitute for real avalanche training, including carrying a beacon, shovel, and probe and knowing how to use them. Here are some resources to help get you started: continued on page 26

• Northwest Avalanche Center: NWAC is the go-to resource for avalanche information in the Pacific Northwest. They provide daily avalanche and weather forecasts throughout the winter, with advice on where and how to travel safely in the backcountry in the winter. Checking their website before you head out should be a mandatory step in your winter adventures.

• See nwac.us for the forecast, virtual avalanche training modules, recent accident reports, a weekly newsletter, and more.

• Avalanche Awareness talks: For those new to learning about avalanches or those wanting to brush up on their knowledge, attending an Avalanche Awareness talk is a great place to start!

• See nwac.us/avalanche-awarenessclasses for a calendar of virtual and in-person classes.

• The Mazamas includes avalanche awareness in the Intermediate Climbing School curriculum, and has also offered Avalanche Awareness skill-builders in years past, so keep an eye on the calendar at mazamas.org/calendar.

• Avalanche 1: If you want to travel in avalanche terrain in the winter, I can’t stress enough taking an Avalanche 1 course or equivalent. They’re a tad spendy but well worth the money.

• See nwac.us/aiare-courses-bylocal-providers to find and register for a course.

• The Mazamas offers an annual Backcountry Ski Touring course for those interested in skiing or splitboarding in the backcountry. The course provides basic avalanche training and many other skills necessary to enjoy the backcountry in winter. The 2025 course is already underway, but keep an eye out for 2026 details later this year.

• Other resources: There are plenty of other resources out there to help you continue your avalanche education. Here are a few of my favorites:

• The National Avalanche Center (avalanche.org) hosts information from avalanche centers across the U.S. and has a good online tutorial.

• For those on the go, the Utah Avalanche Center Podcast, Avalanche Hour Podcast, and Slide: The Avalanche Podcast are all great listens.

• Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper is my go-to book on avalanches. It’s packed with easy-to-understand information and stories. Available in the Mazama Library, 551.31 T72 3rd edition.

Stay safe out there!