Mount Shasta Avalanche
Center Website:http://www.shastaavalanche.org/
Avalance Safety Notes
For safe travel in avalanche terrain during the winter, three main factors must be continually
assessed for their contribution to potential avalanche conditions.
These factors include terrain, weather and the local snowpack conditions.
TERRAIN
The most likely terrain for avalanche
occurrence is generally on open slopes with
an angle between about 30 and 45 degrees. Under very unstable snow conditions
avalanches can also occur on lower angled slopes.
WEATHER
Rapidly changing weather conditions may lead to a rapid rise
in the avalanche danger. This is especially true when significant snowfall
is accompanied by rapid rises in temperature or when snow changes to rain.
SNOWPACK
The winter snowpack is formed as successive storms deposit unique layers of snow, or
it may change internally as other types of layers form during fair or cold weather between storms. The most dangerous
layering is that which might produce a triggered or natural slab avalanche and is normally produced by a relatively
stronger layer (the slab) overlying a relatively weaker layer or a poor bond of to an underlying sliding surface.
Have a safe and enjoyable winter!
Remember that even small avalanches may be dangerous depending on where they occur. About half of all avalanche fatalities occur in slides
traveling less than 300 feet.
AVALANCHE RESEARCH
