Snow, Ice, AND ALPINE CLIMBING Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Checklist Critical Data Hazard Rating* PARAMETERS: KEY INFORMATION GX: TERRAIN: Is the terrain capable of producing an avalanche? * Slope Angle (steep enough to slide? prime time?) * Slope Aspect (leeward, shadowed, or extremely sunny?) * Slope Configuration (anchoring? shape?) Overall Terrain Rating: SNOWPACK: Could the snow fail? © Slab Configuration (slab? depth and distribution?) * Bonding Ability (weak layer? tenter spots?) © Sensitivity (how much force to fail? shear tests? clues?) Overall Snowpack Rating: oooo oooo oooo ocooo oooo oooo WEATHER: Is the weather contributing to instability? * Precipitation (type, amount, intensity? added weight?) Be @: © Wind (snow transport? amount and rate of deposition?) Cy © Temperature (storm trends? effects on snowpack?) QO: O-0: Overall Weather Rating: aaa HUMAN FACTORS: What are your alternatives and their possible consequences? © Attitude (toward life? risk? goals? assumptions?) @ QO: * Technical Skill Level (traveling? evaluating avalanche hazard?) gaa © Strength/Equipment (strength? prepared for the worst?) Qgo0a6a Overall Human Factors Rating: goaa DECISION/ACTION: Overall Hazard Rating/Go or No Go? Go O or nocoO * HAZARD LEVEL SYMBOLS: R = Red light (stop/dangerous), G = Green light (go/OK), Y = Yellow light (caution/potentially dangerous). Fig. 13-44. Avalanche hazard evaluation checklist. (Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Inc., reproduced by permission.)Planning and Preparation Route Options ‘Time Plan with fe anc adust your stat tme accorainaly reining in rescue in your group end who doesnt, Appoint a leader 3 tha tralheadd, atta beteras, shovel, probe, cal phone, map compas, Reader, along si" Base winter Gear Know the Hazard Check your loos avalanche ferecast helene heading cut and’ knews what the avalanene mx ser acorns 5 mich Europe wamlaninen ong 1D Post nt gee {Stay eway orn tera tape ice gules and stoop cis “Remember that aunlanches may happen on slopes Between SO and 45 degrees Proper Travel Techniques ms polantaly dangerous teraln one ata tne Dommunicate with your partners before moving on to the slope, Human Factors: Avoid the errors groups often make + Not apanking aut or communicating concerns about a. Observations Trovertorcurertawkncheeety 2 vinocmoting noes or acting cracks whe taveing on moderate angles ope, What if rm Caught in an Avalanche? Site Setaate enetomen nor aren Transceiver Searching tee pe fore Ueten tun rule onarcrere. spread ot Rornore fen 20 metre pert 1Ormetre horn sect es Wioue foe nna Won forces coe sce (Once the signal is detected, uso your drectional lights anc (stance depley to folow tre vitrn's signal This wil often Pinpoint Search the lowest distance reading Is found, search along the Multiple Burial Search tas and Lsualy can be treated as a series of single Prol rer your wrest distance reading. probe 10 inches (25 6m) tw the snow surface. After stikig the vier, leave probe i place end start shoveling just down Shoveling Shoveiing is exneusing and consumes the mejorty of tne robe abaut 1 anes the bural Sept (note Gapth mack fn probe to determine this dstance).n Geep burials