Articles on how to make safe decisions, manage risk, and recognize when to turn back.
Why Wind Is a Big Deal For Avalanche Safety Of all the variables that can lead to an avalanche, wind might be the most overlooked risk factor. People tend to put a lot of emphasis on fresh snowfall—which is a huge factor—but the wind can be a bit more uncertain if you don’t know what […]
Avalanche Awareness 101: Wind Read More »
What is a Persistent Slab Avalanche? In the world of avalanche safety, a persistent slab avalanche is one of the most notorious hazards because of how long it can linger. Unlike storm or wind slabs that may stabilize quickly, persistent slabs are caused by weak layers deep within the snowpack, such as buried surface hoar
Avalanche Glossary: Deep Persistent Slabs Read More »
What are Cornices? Cornices are massive, overhanging snow formations that develop along ridgelines and peaks, sculpted by wind into precarious, delicate structures. To an inexperienced backcountry traveler, they might appear like natural snow drifts, but they are one of the most deceptive and dangerous hazards in avalanche terrain. Cornices can collapse without warning, triggering avalanches
Avalanche Glossary: Cornices Read More »