Avalanches

An important point that I would like to stress, to all who are going to hit the slopes on a snowboard or skis, is that you must be alert and safe. Everyone has to do their part to know and apply the rules and safety tips that riders must know in order to keep fellow outdoor enthusiast safe. Knowing how to be safe on the mountain becomes much more important when riding in areas that have large amounts of fresh powder. This is because areas then become prone to avalanches, which I’m sure you all know can be very dangerous.

It is important to remember that avalanches are often triggered by yourself or somebody that is riding with you. Having the ability to ride down a mountain requires a fair amount of skill, but skill alone does not mean they you should be on that slope. It is important to remember that when riding in an area that is prone to avalanches three things must be kept in mind:
1) What is the weather like?
2) What is the terrain like?
3) What is the snowpack like?

You should always ask around to find out what the weather has been like in the past week or so. That way you know that if a lot of fresh snow has fallen avalanches are more likely to occur. When snow falls it tends to fall in layers. When one of the layers grows weak it collapse and forms a pocket that you can fall into, or it can trigger an avalanche. Last thing there is to know about basic avalanche signs is the terrain. Obviously, the steeper the terrain the more likely it is for an avalanche to occur.