Avalanche Safety - Glossary

Keep these terms in mind, to be better prepared for navigating avalanche terrain safely. Remember, always be prepared, know the risks, and have the right gear when heading off the pistes.

Avalanche: A fast-moving flow of snow, ice, and debris that slides down a mountain, often triggered by weather, terrain, or human activity.

Avalanche Airbag: A backpack with an airbag that inflates when triggered to help you stay on top of the snow during an avalanche.

Avalanche Bulletin / Forecast: A report that gives you an idea of how dangerous avalanche conditions are in a certain area, based on weather and snow conditions. Often clearly published on resort or weather websites, and at the bottom of relevant lifts.

Avalanche Burial: When someone gets trapped under snow, ice, or debris in an avalanche. How deep they're buried and how long they stay buried significantly affects their chances of survival.

Avalanche Control: Deliberately triggering smaller avalanches (often using explosives) to reduce the risk of bigger, more dangerous ones.

Avalanche Path: where avalanches typically travel down the mountain.

Avalanche Probe: A pole used by rescuers to search through snow and find someone buried in an avalanche.

Avalanche Rescue: The techniques used to search for and rescue people buried in avalanches, including beacon searches, probing, and digging.

Avalanche Risk: The likelihood of an avalanche happening, based on things like terrain, snow conditions, and human activity.

Avalanche Risk Level / Danger Rating: A level that tells you how risky avalanche conditions are, ranging from "Low" to "Extreme," based on factors like snow stability and weather.

Avalanche Risk Scale: A (generally) five level scale of increasing risk. See Avalanche Risk Levels.

Avalanche Safety Protocols: A set of steps to follow to stay safe in avalanche terrain, like checking forecasts, carrying safety gear, and sticking to safer routes.

Avalanche Slope: A slope steep enough for an avalanche to potentially occur, usually between 30-45 degrees.

Avalanche Transceiver (or Beacon): An essential part of your kit if you ski off-piste. As the name suggests, it both transmits (so that searchers may find you, under the snow) and receives (so you can locate people buried in an avalanche).

Avalanche Trigger: An event or action that sets off an avalanche; could be a natural release, or the passage of a skier or snowboarder.

Cornice: A large, overhanging mass of snow or ice along a ridge. Cornices can collapse, triggering avalanches below.

Floatation: The ability to stay on top of the snow after a fall, reducing the risk of being buried. Avalanche airbags can help with flotation (if deployed).

Island of Safety / Safe Zone: A spot outside the avalanche path or in an area that’s protected from avalanches. These are good places to rest or take shelter.

Loose Snow Avalanche: A smaller avalanche where loose snow slides down a slope. These tend to be less deadly than hard slab avalanches.

Mountain Weather: The weather conditions (like snow, wind, and temperature) that affect avalanche risk. Sudden changes generally increase avalanche risk.

Observational Skills: The ability to notice signs of potential avalanches, like recent slides or weak spots in the snow, to judge avalanche danger.

Rescue Dogs: Dogs trained to sniff out people buried in avalanches. They’re quick and effective in search and rescue missions.

Slab Avalanche: A large avalanche caused by a solid slab of snow breaking loose. Typically fast and dangerous.

Slope Angle: The steepness of a slope. Avalanches are most likely on slopes between 30-45 degrees.

Sluff: Small and shallow avalanche, often occurring naturally - can indicate instabilities in the upper layers of the snow pack.

Snow Pit: A hole dug in the snow to study snow layers and check if the snowpack is stable.

Snowpack: The layers of snow that build up over time. The stability of the snowpack determines avalanche risk.

Terrain Features: The characteristics of the land, like steepness, potential snow buildup, and natural obstacles, that affect how avalanches behave.

Terrain Trap: A feature like a gully or depression where snow can accumulate, making it far more dangerous if an avalanche happens there (as victims may be deeply buried and difficult to locate and rescue).

Transceiver Check (Beacon Test): A routine check, before you ski off-piste, to make sure your avalanche beacon works before heading into avalanche terrain.

Transceiver Search: A method of finding avalanche victims by using a transceiver (in Search, or Receive Mode) to track the signal from a victim's transceiver.

Triggering Layer: The weak layer of snow that gives way (when pressure or a shock is applied), starting the avalanche.

Weak Layer: A layer of snow that is not well-bonded to the surrounding snow. Weak layers may allow the snow above to release.

Trigger Point: The spot where something (e.g. a person or an event) causes the snow to give way and start an avalanche.

Whooping / Whumpfing: A noise when a weak snow layer collapses under pressure. A warning sign that the snowpack is unstable.

Zone of Influence: The area around you affected by your actions, like skiing or snowboarding, where you could trigger an avalanche.