As ski resort begin opening up in droves across the country and backcountry skiers start to show at trailheads, its a fine to remind folks about the importance of a proper avalanche safety education.
Getting certified is fairly straight forward with in person and online classes widely available (find resources here) and is critical to responsible backcountry recreation. The following video is just a simple definition of a common avalanche type as defined by the good folks over at The American Alpine Institute.
Slab avalanches occur when a cohesive plate of snow breaks away from the weaker layer beneath it and slides downhill as a single, fast-moving mass.
“Think of it as a giant dinner plate of snow suddenly deciding it’s had enough and making a run for it—usually far faster than anyone expects.”
Slab avalanches are triggered when the bond between layers fails, often due to wind-loaded slabs sitting on top of fragile, faceted crystals or depth hoar. Once the slab fractures, it rapidly accelerates and gains enormous power, becoming one of the most dangerous avalanche types in the mountains.
Taking an avalanche safety certification course is an important step in your backcountry education. Once you have a solid foundation in the classroom, understanding avalanche forecasts and danger scales will supplement your decision making in the field. Here’s a quick intro to North American Avalanche Danger Scale.
