Be Prepared For An Avalanche

You never think it is going to happen to you, but you need to be prepared for an avalanche during the upcoming winter months.

Before you go out into potential avalanche prone areas, make sure you have the training, equipment, and knowledge of what to do to prevent avalanches and how to respond if an avalanche were to occur. 

What is an avalanche?
An avalanche is a mass of snow sliding down a mountainside.

What causes an avalanche?
Avalanches occur when stresses (driving forces), such as the pulling of snow downhill by gravity, exceeds the strength (resisting forces) such as the bonds between snow grains. Four ingredients are needed to produce an avalanche:

1. Snow
2. Weak layer in the snow cover
3. Steep slope
4. A trigger

Where do avalanches occur?
About 90% of all avalanches start on slopes of 30 - 45 degrees; about 98% of all avalanches occur on slopes of 25 - 50 degrees. Avalanches release most often on slopes above timberline that face away from prevailing winds (leeward slopes collect snow blowing from the windward sides of ridges.)

Avalanches can run, however, on small slopes well below timberline, such as gullies, road cuts, and small openings in the trees. Very dense trees can anchor the snow to steep slopes and prevent avalanches from starting; however, avalanches can release and travel through a moderately dense forest.

Who gets caught in avalanches?
Avalanche victims are primarily backcountry recreationists: snowmobilers, climbers, snowboarders, skiers, and hikers.

How do people get caught in avalanches?
In 90% of avalanche incidents, the victim or someone in the victim's party triggers the avalanche.

Additional Information Resources

• Utah Avalanche Forecast Center
• General Avalanche Information