Travel Practices
·
Follow terrain features that are least likely to avalanche.
Use ridges and areas where the snow has been blown off to ascend or
descend.
· Avoid traversing under avalanche slopes. If natural avalanches are likely (high or extreme hazard) or any time there is "whomping'" sounds in the snowpack.
· Traverse slopes as high as possible. Whenever crossing a potential avalanche slope cross as high as possible, so as to have as little snow to bury you as possible. Watch out for a falling hazard.
· When traversing slopes travel one at a time. Two reasons for this, one is to avoid having more than one person caught in an avalanche the other is to minimize the load on the slope.
· Avoid climbing under another party. Avalanches can be triggered by the other party often with little consequence to them and burying you.
· Travel one at a time from safe zone to safe zone when ascending or descending gullies. Look for alcoves or walls that will protect you should your partner kick off a small avalanche.
· Use belaying techniques when climbing gullies that have avalanche hazard. We are often told not to rope up in avalanche terrain, but when rock or ice protection is available that will not slide with the slope, the rope can keep you from being carried away by the avalanche. This can protect you from small localized avalanches.
· Watch for terrain traps. Make sure that should you be involved in an avalanche that the debris will not be trapped and cause a small slide to have a deep debris pile.
· Watch for the falling hazard even when crossing the most benign looking slopes. Even the smallest of avalanches can be deadly when mixed with a cliff band. This can be important between ice bulges or on ridges.
· Always wear an avalanche transceiver and carry a shovel and probe.