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The most important thing:
The most important thing:
Slope Angle
Slope Angle
Avalanches don't happen on flat fields. For snow to slide downhill, there needs to be a minimum slope angle; luckily for us, this angle is steeper than lots of ski runs. The most quoted minimum slope angle for avalanches is 30 degrees, but the more accurate number is 27°. Anything less steep than this, gravity is not strong enough to overcome the friction holding the snow pack in place.
How steep is 27°?
How steep is 27°?
Pull out your phone, open up a level app, and see for yourself. You may be surprised that 27 degrees is not an extremely shallow angle. I have lots of great memories skiing slopes under this threshold, and I would argue that skiing anything steeper is only narrowly more fun. So if I’m not 100% confident in the stability of the snowpack, I ask my ask myself, is it worth it to risk skiing steeper terrain?
Not every slope under 27° is safe from avalanches!
Not every slope under 27° is safe from avalanches!
Here is my checklist that qualifies a slope as non-avalanche terrain.
Here is my checklist that qualifies a slope as non-avalanche terrain.
Look from afar: Is the slope under 27°?
Look closely: are there any spots within the zone that go above 27°? Even just for a small section?
Look above: Are there slopes above the zone that are above 27°?
Look left and right: are there slopes next to the zone that are above 27°?
Look before and after: Do you have to ski through or below any terrain above 27° to get into or back from the zone?
If the zone answers "no" to each of these questions, then it is safe from avalanches.
Next: how to plan a route
Next: how to plan a route
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