| Avalanches most commonly occur on slopes of 30 to 45 degrees. Form a right angle with your ski poles and compare it to the slant of the slope. |
| Tops of ridges are generally safe. However, don’t ski on top of or below cornices (overhangs of snow on ridge tops). |
| If you suspect a dangerous area, do not ski with a group. Ski across one at a time. |
| If in doubt, find another trail. |
| The safest routes on steep slopes are through heavy trees. Avoid open expanses. |
| Before you start, dig a snowpit. Look for changes in snow layers. Heavy snow on top of light snow means danger. |
| Serious backcountry skiers should carry avalanche beacons and shovels. |
| When snowfalls are frequent, the layers of snow bond together. If snows are infrequent, the old snow melts and freezes to a granular consistency. When new snow falls, the old layer acts like ball bearings, causing slides. |
| Leeward slopes--those facing away from prevailing winds--are most dangerous. Winds deposit snow at the top of slopes. Additional weight pushes snow downhill. |