Triggered natural or by human factors, and have a fast flow of snow on slope, calls Avalanche.
Avalanche terrain - safety:
- Terrain management: is it's know about a terrain that have a risk of avalanche, an individual must avoid to travel there. Advice: do not travel over convex rolls, stay away from terrain traps (gulleys that can be filled in), do not travel under cutting slopes and stay away from exposed rock.
- Group management: reduce the risk to involve a member or the entire group into the avalanche. Advice: only one person pass over a slope (maintain separation), better route (slope) selection, camp only in safe zones, wear warm gear, must have an escape route and do not travel alone.
- Risk Factor Awareness: you must collect information, like: weather forecast, meteorological history of the area, physical condition of the group and current snow condition.
- Leadership: you must know to read the risk factors of an avalanche to know which are the best decision.
Rescue equipment and search: Beacons (avalanche transceivers), Shovels (essential for digging), Avalanche cords (~10 meter long red cord), Probes (collapsible, portable), Avalung (new device which include: a flap valve, an air collector, a mouth piece and an exhaust pipe) and Other devices (Personal Locating Beacons (PLBs) or Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)).
Danger Scale of an avalanche (European / United States):
1 - Low / Green: Human triggered (avalanches) - unlikely, Travel - generally safe, Natural triggered (avalanches) - unlikely, Snow - very stable
3 - Medium / Orange (Considerable): Travel - increasingly cautious in steeper terrain, Snow - moderately or weakly stable, Human triggered (avalanches) - probable, Natural triggered (avalanches) - possible
4 - High / Red: Human triggered (avalanches) - likely, Travel - not recommended, Natural triggered (avalanches) - likely, Snow - not very stable
5 - Very High / Red/Black border (Extreme): Human triggered (avalanches) - certain, Travel - should be avoided, Natural triggered (avalanches) - certain, Snow - generally unstable
