When venturing into the backcountry, answering these two questions is essential when assessing a slope to ride:
Is the terrain capable of producing an avalanche?
-and-
Can the snow slide?
Avalanches happen when four ingredients are present: a slab, a weak layer, a trigger and a slope steep enough to slide. A key problem when assessing slope angle is that most slopes have varying degrees of steepness. It is critical for riders to assess slope angle frequently.
File Upload