Education

Most avalanche accidents don't happen because a wall of snow comes crashing down from above without any warning. Most of the time, the person caught in the avalanche or someone in that person's group triggers the avalanche. In many cases, people even notice signs of unstable snow during the day. While these facts may sound scary, they also mean that people can choose to avoid avalanches. Avalanche education can teach people to recognize signs of unstable snow, terrain prone to avalanches, hazardous weather conditions, and factors that affect decision-making. Learning about avalanches can help people make choices to avoid getting caught in avalanches.