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Avalanche Safety

Each year, over 150 people are killed in avalanches, and thousands more are injured. For this reason, knowing basic avalanche safety techniques are extremely important before journeying into the mountains in winter. Understanding the risks involved in snowy backcountry adventures can save your life.

The most important aspect of avalanche safety is knowing that an avalanche can kill anyone, regardless of their knowledge and experience. Some estimates suggest that upwards of 75% of avalanche victims are experienced backcountry explorers. These types of statistics underscore the importance of taking every safety precaution before setting out into the wilderness.

Being aware of your surroundings is step number one when it comes to avalanche safety. Natural clues, such as visible fracture lines in the snowpack can help you determine if a route is safe or not. Snow pits and shear tests are also excellent ways of determining the safety of the snowpack.

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