Sponsored by
Avalanche.org
Conditions
National Danger Map
U.S. Avalanche Centers
Education
Basics
Tutorial
Courses
Find a Course
Encyclopedia
Tech Paper Library
Accidents
U.S. Accident Reports
Report an Accident
About
About Avalanche.org
Sponsors
American Avalanche Association
National Avalanche Center
Avalanche Encyclopedia
Search
Avalanche
Anatomy of an avalanche
Bed Surface
Crown line / Fracture line
Debris
Flank
Powder cloud
Stauchwall
Avalanche Cycle
Avalanche Problems
Avalanche Problem Type (or Avalanche Character)
Cornice Fall
Deep Persistent Slab
Dry Loose
Glide Avalanche
Normal Caution
Persistent Slab
Storm Slab
Wet Loose
Wet Slab
Wind Slab
Avalanche Size
Destructive Force (D Scale)
Historic (D4 & D5)
Large (D2)
Relative Size (R Scale)
Small (D1)
Very Large (D3)
Distribution
Distribution Rose
Likelihood
Sensitivity
Avalanche Release
Glide
Point Release
Slab Avalanche Release
Avalanche Type
Cornice fall avalanche
Dry avalanche
Hard slab avalanche
Ice fall
Loose snow avalanche
Roof avalanche
Slush flow
Soft slab avalanche
Wet avalanche
Failure Interface
Trigger
Artificial Trigger
Explosive Trigger
Human Trigger
Natural Trigger
Remote Trigger
Step down
Sympathetic Release
Human
Avalanche Center Resources
Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche WARNING
Avalanche WATCH
Know Before You Go
North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale
Considerable Danger (Level 3)
Extreme Danger (Level 5)
High Danger (Level 4)
Low Danger (Level 1)
Moderate Danger (Level 2)
Special Avalanche Bulletin
Avalanche Involvements
Avalanche Risk
Avalanche Hazard
Vulnerability
Companion Rescue
Avalanche Survival Techniques
Evacuation
Search and Rescue (SAR)
Multiple Burial Rescue techniques
3-circle method
Flagging / Marking / Signal Suppression
Signal Overlap
Micro search strip
Patient care
Probing
Pinpoint Probing
Probe Line
Spot Probing
Strategic Shoveling
Transceiver search
Coarse Search
Flux line
Fine search
Signal search
Decision Making
Human Factors
Anchoring Bias
Confirmation Bias
Dunning-Kruger Effect
F.A.C.E.T.S
Opportunity Cost
Optimism Bias
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Strategic Mindset
Gear
Airbag
Avalanche Probe
Avalanche Shovel
Cell phone
Emergency Shelter
Extra Layers
First Aid kit
Helmet
Inclinometer
Lighting
Nutrition
Personal Locating Beacon / Satellite Messengers
Radios
RECCO
Transceiver/ Beacon
Electromagnetic interference
Transceiver Check
Travel Advice
Group Size
High Marking
Ski cut / slope cut
Skinning
Sluff management
Solo Travel
Terrain Status
Wide margin for error
Snowpack
Slab
Snow Layer
Snow metamorphism
Bonding (or Sintering)
Faceting
Melt
Isothermal
Water content
Melt-freeze processes
Corn snow
Melt-freeze crust
Rain crust
Sun crust
Refreeze
Radiative cooling
Rounding
Settlement
Settlement cones
Temperature gradient
Wind effects
Wind erosion
Sastrugi
Snowpack Observations
Signs of Instability / Red Flags
Collapse (or Whumpf)
Heavy snowfall or rain
Loading / Loading Rate
Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)
Snowfall Rates
Rapid warming
Rain on snow
Rollerballs / Pinwheels
Tree bombs
Recent Avalanche Activity
Shooting cracks
Wind loading
Blowing snow / plumes
Drifts
Snow Pit
Full Snow Profile
Hand pit
Snow hardness
Test pit
Snow surface observations
Boot / ski penetration
Snow cohesion
Right-side-up storm
Upside-down storm
Snowpack Test
Compression Test (CT)
Cornice Test
Deep Tap Test (DTT)
Extended Column Test (ECT)
Propagation Saw Test (PST)
Rutschblock Test (RB)
Shear Quality / Fracture Character
Test slope
Weak Layer
Persistent Weak Layers
Depth Hoar / Basal Facets
Facets
Faceted crust / near-crust faceting
Near-surface facets
Surface Hoar
Storm snow weak layers
Density Difference
Graupel / Rimed Particles
Stellar Dendrites and Plates
Terrain
Avalanche Terrain Exposure
Avalanche path
Avalanche Track
Runout zone
Flagging
Start zone
Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES)
Overhead hazard
Safe Zone
Terrain Trap
Trigger point
Lift-access backcountry / Sidecountry
Slope characteristics
Anchors
Aspect
Elevation
Above treeline
Below treeline
Near treeline
Slope Angle
Low angle terrain
Slope Shape
Sun exposure
Tree Density
Wind exposure
Cross-loaded
Leeward
Wind sheltered
Windward
Spatial Scale
Terrain-based trip planning
Weather
Atmospheric Lift
Atmospheric River (AR)
Cold Front
Convective Snowfall
Freezing level
High Pressure / High Pressure Ridge
Jet Stream
Low Pressure
Closed Low / Cutoff Low
Low Pressure Trough
Orographic Snowfall
Snow climate
Continental snow climate
Intermountain / Transitional snow climate
Maritime / Coastal snow climate
Snow level
Snow ratio
Temperature Inversion
Warm Front
Weather stations
Anemometer
Precipitation bucket
SNOTEL
Snow Depth Sensor
Snow Pillow
Thermometer