5 Red Flags

To ride in the backcountry you need to have an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe and a good partner. Leave your ego at home. Always check the local avalanche danger forecast and watch out for natural signs of avalanches - principles formulated by Jeremy Jones: 5 RED FLAGS! Ride to live another day!

1. Fresh snow is a sign of avalanche danger. The vast majority of man-made avalanches have this origin. Expect high to extreme avalanche danger for at least 24 hours after a snowfall. Follow this rule and you will reduce your risk of triggering an avalanche by 90%.
2. Signs of recent avalanches such as "crown lines" (the edge of the slope where the avalanche broke off) and "avy debris" (the remains of collapsed avalanches) should be taken very seriously. Be especially cautious if you find avalanche tracks at a similar altitude to the slope you want to ride.
3. Collapsing or cracking in snowpack is a sign of unstable layers in the snowpack. Cracks may also shoot out from your skis or board as you skin or ride in fresh snow. These are all signs of dangerous snow layers.
4. Rapid rise in temperature always means a potential avalanche risk because the snow pack does not have time to adjust to the temperature change. Take extra precaution on the first warm day after a storm cycle.
5. Strong winds, blowing & drifting snow. If the wind is strong enough to transport snow then the avalanche conditions can change from stable to dangerous without any new snow. Watch for blowing snow on high ridges and beware of wind loaded pockets at the top of faces and chutes.

Avalanche Equipment

Video:

Backcountry checklist by Jeremy Jones:

Jeremy Jones' Backcountry Mental Checklist: