1 30 A v oiding A v alanc hes There is no easy su re w a y t o t ell if a giv en slope is stable or no t Slabs in par ticular can sur viv e f or months af t er the y ha v e f ormed and can be co v ered with ne w sno w The resulting sur face can look and f eel saf e but the unstable slabsubstratum int er face ma y be present at depth The bes t plan is t o a v oid areas that might be pr one t o a v alanching A v oid old a v alanche paths Look f or bands of slide alder small bent conif er s shatt ered trees and do wnsloping bush A v oid hollo w sounding areas and slopes that suddenly se ttle when y ou are on them These can indicat e the presence of danger ous slab conditions Most a v ala nches star t on slopes ranging fr om about 30 degrees t o 45 degrees in st eepness but once mo ving the y can sw eep o v er fat v alle y foor s f or great distances P ar ticular care is needed during and shor tly af t er st orms or sno wf alls Conditions cha nge fr om da y t o da y Y est er da ys saf e r out e ma y be t oda ys death trap Cornices pr o vid e a useful guide t o pre v ailing wind direction Do no t climb beneath corniced areas Danger Areas Slopes Ridges Gullies are more danger ous than adjacent open slopes Lee w a r d slopes t end t o receiv e hea vier sno wf all than windw ar d slopes V alle y Floor s