An avalanche is a swiftly moving mass of snow that moves quickly down a mountain slope, covering everything in its path with snowflakes or crushing anything in its path – often killing people along its route. Avalanches occur most frequently from December to April in the Northern Hemisphere due to weather fluctuations and weak layers in the snowpack; for these reasons people should try and avoid backcountry areas more prone to avalanches, while being prepared by carrying gear and receiving adequate education beforehand.
An avalanche is a serious danger when skiing, snowboarding, hiking or climbing; people can become trapped within it and be buried or carried away; the force can damage buildings and cars and kill people through suffocation as is most often the cause.
Before venturing into backcountry mountains, individuals should consult online avalanche forecasts for their area to reduce the risk of avalanches. Such forecasts take into account snowpack size and type, wind speeds and weather conditions – not always accurately; but can give an indication of danger in their particular terrain and weather conditions.
Avalanches typically occur after fresh snowfall or when pressure has been exerted upon a snowpack by adding weight, such as when heavy loads are put upon its slope. Shaded slopes tend to experience more frequent avalanche activity.
If a person finds themselves trapped in an avalanche, their best chance for survival lies in fleeing its path. People can ski or snowboard around it or move ahead at 45-degree angles to gain momentum and steer away. If this fails, reaching for any objects nearby could help save lives; those caught inside avalanches often die due to airflow restrictions being blocked as snow compresses around them and blocks off air passageways.
People can increase their chances of surviving an avalanche by carrying rescue equipment, learning to recognize five red flags of unstable snowpack and taking avalanche awareness classes. Furthermore, carrying radio communication between companions is helpful; so too is traveling early in the day to give more time if trapped if an avalanche strikes; also carrying a shovel and learning how to dig yourself out is helpful when trapped, punching skyward for assistance (avalanche beacons can assist rescuers find victims buried by helping rescuers track victims). Finally, carrying a radio is useful in communication among companions when planning routes that avoid potential danger.