| nches are a substantial potential threat to climbers | | | | The Avalanche Triangle |
| year round. Every year, dozens of individuals are killed | | | | The danger of an avalanche is established when three |
| during avalanches because they were unequipped, did | | | | points are present. These three points are considered |
| not recognize the danger signs or pushed too hard. Be | | | | the avalanche triangle and should keep climbers home |
| prepared and you can remain safe while enjoying your | | | | or at their base. |
| climb. | | | | Terrain – There are certain areas that are more |
| Types of Avalanche | | | | prone to avalanches. This avalanche terrain is often |
| The two primary kinds of avalanches that occur in | | | | quite obvious as there will be few if any trees present |
| snow are point release and slab avalanches. Each has | | | | and an angle of more than thirty degrees to the slope. |
| different characteristics and warning signs. | | | | Anything less than thirty degrees is usually to gentle of |
| Point Release | | | | a slope for severe avalanches. |
| When a single rock or snowball comes loose and the | | | | Avalanches are still possible at small and large angles |
| effect slowly grows larger, this is a point release | | | | though. You may be on a run out area, accounting for |
| avalanche. These are the less dangerous of the two | | | | a twenty degree slope. Alternately, though forty five |
| kinds of avalanche as they are generally shallow and | | | | degrees and higher is usually safe because snow will |
| will usually only knock or push you to the ground. They | | | | slide down naturally as it lands, there are certain |
| can, however, be dangerous if you are climbing a | | | | circumstances in which avalanches are still possible at |
| Cliffside and are pushed free. | | | | this angle. |
| Slab Avalanche | | | | Unstable Snow – The stability of the snow is |
| A slab avalanche is when massive plates and chunks | | | | one of the primary points of hazard for an avalanche. |
| of ice and snow break loose and start to fall. Because | | | | If it shifts readily under your feet, looks as though it has |
| of the larger scale, these avalanches are much more | | | | not moved in days or weeks, and no animals are |
| dangerous. When the weakened layer of snow | | | | present, the snow is likely very unstable, marking the |
| collapses, the snow on top breaks up and starts to | | | | area as a high danger zone for avalanches. |
| slide as well. A slab avalanche will vary greatly in size, | | | | People – When there are people present, there |
| from a point release sized slide to a massive flurry | | | | is a danger of being caught up in an avalanche. If they |
| that can bury a house. | | | | are not present, an avalanche is nothing more than a |
| Avalanche Sizes | | | | beautiful act of nature. If you notice unstable snow in |
| There are five primary sizes of avalanche. They | | | | avalanche terrain, steer yourself and any other people |
| include the following: | | | | away to remain safe. |
| Class One – The equivalent of a point release. | | | | There are many things you can do to avoid being |
| Will knock people over, but not deep enough to bury | | | | caught up in an avalanche when you go climbing, skiing |
| anything. | | | | or snowboarding. The first thing is to know what you |
| Class Two – Deep enough to bury a person. | | | | are looking for. By acknowledging and steering clear of |
| Class Three – Deep enough to bury a car. | | | | potential danger points, you can keep yourself and |
| Class Four – Deep enough to bury a house. | | | | your friends safe from the imminent bodily harm the |
| Class Five – Deep enough to bury multiple | | | | mountain might inflict. |
| houses – catastrophic avalanche. | | | | |