With the ease of digital mapping, slope angle shading has become the go-to tool for assessing avalanche terrain. It works by highlighting slopes above the avalanche threshold with a color overlay on top of the map. The color makes it easy to visually understand where the terrain is above that 27°, and it is not. Using this tool, with the checklist from the first page, it is relatively simple to see if any route is exposed to avalanches. 

My favorite day-to-day mapping software to use that has slope angle shading is an app called Footpath. While the slope angle shading feature is behind a paywall, I love the app because of its ease of use, especially on a phone. There are some other commonly used, free programs with slope angle shading, like CalTopo and Gaia.

All of these platforms allow you to draw a map route, see stats like distance/elevation, and allow you to analyze the sounding slopes using the shading. Remember to look not only at the shading of the route, but also above and around the route.

I recommend using one of these tools every time you go out skiing.

Finding zones near you

Depending on where in the world you are skiing, it may be easy to find zones that meet these criteria, or it might be limited. However, everywhere I have skied, I have been able to find at least a small area that meets these criteria. 

Here are my tips for looking for routes near you

• Don't overlook smaller slopes. The bigger the mountain, generally, the more complex the terrain gets. Zones with only 500 vertical feet from top to bottom can still be fun skiing. 

• Remember to look at the less popular trailheads. Skiers are drawn to the parking areas that have the most extreme terrain, overlooking the areas that have gentler slopes with lots of low-angle skiing. 

• Think outside of the box. You may be able to find low-angle zones that are in places that are often overlooked. Remember to look at places that may be further or below the trailhead. These hidden zones may require more traversing, or a skin back to the car at the end, but they can be a great place to find untracked safe snow. 

• Ask around. Find local experts who know the area well. They may not give up their favorite stash, but normally, they are happy to give you a starting point. Especially if you express your desire for safe skiing.