Chapter 5

The Avalanche Forecast

Your regional avalanche forecast is your first step when planning a backcountry trip. The forecast provides you with a current danger rating, based on a five-point danger scale, and the trend for the next couple of days. It will also indicate where the danger exists and provide advice on what type of terrain to avoid, or to seek out, under the current conditions. The forecast is divided into three tabs:

• Danger ratings, including travel and terrain advice.
• Problems provides guidance on the type of avalanche danger you can expect and the type of terrain where it will be found.
• Details provides an overview of local avalanche conditions, and a summary of snowpack conditions, and a brief weather forecast.

Check out this video for a primer on the forecast.

Now let's go into more detail, starting with the danger ratings.