Avalanche Awareness and Backcountry Travel Guide

Prepared household scene illustrating avalanche safety guide

Make conservative winter backcountry decisions using forecasts, terrain awareness, training, rescue equipment, and group discipline.

Start with whether to go

Avalanche safety begins before the trailhead. Check the current avalanche forecast and weather for the exact area, understand the stated danger and avalanche problems, and choose terrain that matches the group’s training. Conditions can change during the day.

Recognize exposure

Avalanches commonly occur on or beneath steep, snow-covered slopes. A route can be exposed even when it crosses flat ground below avalanche terrain. Signs such as recent avalanches, cracking, collapsing snow, rapid loading by snow or wind, or warming are reasons to move away from suspect terrain.

Carry equipment—and know it

Each person traveling in avalanche terrain should carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel and know how to use them. A communication device and first-aid supplies add capability but do not replace training or conservative route choice. Practice rescue skills regularly.

Travel as a disciplined group

Discuss the route, decision points, turnaround time, and communication signals before leaving. Expose only one person at a time where appropriate, watch partners from safer locations, and avoid grouping in runout zones. Speak up when conditions or comfort levels change.

If an avalanche occurs

Call emergency services or activate satellite rescue communication when possible. Companions must rapidly assess continuing avalanche danger before attempting rescue. Formal avalanche education is the best preparation for search, probing, digging, first aid, and terrain decisions.